Bekasi villagers face struggle to get water
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Bekasi
It was a bit chaotic at the Jami Al Mutaqin Mosque in Malaka village, Cibarusah Kota subdistrict, Cibarusah district, Bekasi regency.
The dozens of people crowding around in the yard of the mosque were not there to pray, but for water.
Children and adults, including elderly men and women, filled jerricans and other containers with water.
"Almost all the wells in this village have been dry since July. But we are lucky because the Bekasi tap water company (PDAM) supplies water to the public here for one hour each day," Sukamiharja, a retired police officer, told The Jakarta Post last weekend.
Another resident, Uncup, said the people were so desperate to get water that quarrels often broke out among those crowding around the tap.
"PDAM has put a water main in this village. But there is no access to water at residents' houses. We hope the company will install water pipes connecting the houses," he said.
Uncup said he had a car washing business in the village, but it had been closed for the last three months because of the water shortage.
Cibarusah district is not the only affected area, with water shortages being experienced throughout the regency and Greater Jakarta.
"We only take a bath once every three days here," Santung, 33, a resident of Rido Galih village, said.
He said residents had tried to dig wells, but always in vain.
Astan, the village chief, said two years ago he sent a letter to the Cibarusah district administration asking that water pipes be installed in the village, but he never received a response.
Hundreds of residents in Rido Galih, as well as in other villages such as Tegal Kedu, Rawa Boyo Keler and Cijati, have to walk two to three kilometers to the Cihowe River to fetch water. Or, alternatively, they can try their luck at neighboring villages, like Sirnajati, where there is still water.
In Sirnajati, several people from other villages use pails to get water from the Cipamingkis River, which is almost dry. Others have tried to dig "wells" on the river floor for bathing and washing.
They also take water from wells belonging to village residents.
Marhawi, a former secretary for Sirnajati village who owns a well in Kampung Kulo, said residents from other villages drew water from his well during the night.
"Not all of them just take the water, some opportunists have even stolen my chickens, ducks and other things," he said. But this does not stop him from helping the people.
Marhawi does not only blame the long drought for the water shortage, but also illegal tree cutting and the sand and stone quarrying by three companies in the area: PT Rikardi, PT Wada Rejeki Alam and PT Zam Zam.
"The activities of these three companies, as well as illegal tree cutting, have damaged the environment so that the land is no longer able to absorb water," he said.
Maybe that is why PT Wada Rejeki Alam sent a water truck to Pasar Lama village in Cibarusah Kota subdistrict to distribute water to the thirsty residents.