Water supply may return to normal within two weeks<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of thousands of Jakartans will live
\nwith less or even no tap water in the next two weeks while the
\ngovernment rebuilds the collapsed West Tarum dike in Kali Malang,
\nEast Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The central government, in cooperation with city water
\ncompanies and state water company Perum Jasa Tirta II, is
\ncurrently working on the collapsed dike.<\/p>\n
Director general of water resources at the Ministry of
\nSettlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno, said on
\nWednesday that the construction work would be completed within
\ntwo weeks.<\/p>\n
Soenarno said that his office, along with Jasa Tirta II and
\ncity water companies, had reinforced the collapsed part of the
\ndike with some 2,200 plastic sacks filled with soil, supported by
\nbamboo and wood.<\/p>\n
"We have had to reduce the water debit from the usual 14 cubic
\nmeters per second to only four cubic meter per second. Otherwise,
\nI'm afraid the temporary dike will collapse again," he told a
\nmedia conference here.<\/p>\n
"But hopefully, the dike can be operated again normally on
\nJune 6 as planned," Soenarno said, adding that the restoration
\nwould cost some Rp 200 million (about US$18,181).<\/p>\n
Some 15 to 20 meters of the dike -- which measures 20 meters
\nwide by six meter high, collapsed on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
As a result, thousands of tap water customers of PT Thames Pam
\nJaya and PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya in North, East and some parts of
\nCentral Jakarta were without water when Perum Jasa Tirta II cut
\noff supplies.<\/p>\n
According to Soenarno, there was a leak in the pipe between
\nthe dike and the sluice gate which caused a cavity in the dike.<\/p>\n
"Because of its own weight and the endless vibration from its
\nsurroundings caused by traffic, the dike then collapsed,"
\nSoenarno said.<\/p>\n
He added that the dike itself is very old, as it was
\nestablished in 1958.<\/p>\n
"There has been regular control and maintenance over the dike.
\nBut it is difficult to monitor the piping as it is very deep
\nunderground," Soenarno said.<\/p>\n
"And it was not equipped with monitoring instruments when it
\nwas built," he added.<\/p>\n
The dam in Kali Malang, Soenarno said, was actually supported
\nby as inspection road.<\/p>\n
"But following subsequent development, it became a public
\nroad, so it became more difficult to monitor the dam," he
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
The traffic then grew heavier, especially since the government
\nestablished a toll road.<\/p>\n
"The strange thing was, a pillar of the toll road was built
\nright on the dam. The vibration from the traffic and the weight
\nof the pillar then contributed to the collapse," Soenarno said.<\/p>\n
Soenarno said that his office will inspect the Kali Malang
\ndike and other areas to assess the possibility of other
\ncollapses.<\/p>\n
Due to the cessation of water supply, many customers have had
\nto buy water from vendors or get it from neighbors who have an
\nartesian well. (hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/water-supply-may-return-to-normal-within-two-weeks-1447893297",
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