'City administration isn't serious about water problems'

Multistory buildings and skyscrapers in the city have been blamed for the current shortage of groundwater. Excessive exploitation of groundwater has made it difficult for Jakarta residents to get access to safe drinking water for their daily needs. Some residents shared their views about the current situation with The Jakarta Post.

Anthony, 42, is a manager of a private bank in Salemba, Central Jakarta. He has been residing in Setiabudi, South Jakarta for 12 years with his wife and two children:

Skyscrapers, hotels and government buildings have been exploiting the groundwater in the city for years. They have "competed" to drill deeper and deeper artesian wells to gain the maximum groundwater for their needs.

I wonder whether or not they think about the risks they have to account for due to the excessive exploitation.

I'm sure that the uncontrolled drilling will in the future result in a scarcity of groundwater. If so, what will we get in the future from the wells?

A gubernatorial decree on the use of groundwater has not been effective to curb the over exploitation of groundwater. Advanced technology, hopefully, will help us deal with groundwater scarcity in the future. I mean technology to enable the purification and treatment of seawater for consumption.

As the water problem in the city is getting complicated, I would prefer to move to the city's outskirts such as an area close to Bogor.

Eka Dewi P.S., 20, is a teacher of a noted tourism school in Kalimalang, East Jakarta. She was born and lives in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta:

The continued construction of multistory buildings in the city should be blamed for our groundwater shortage. The race to get adequate groundwater has continued without proper monitoring by the government.

The intense groundwater exploration does not jive with serious re-greening efforts. The natural catchment system does not work properly any longer.

The chronic water problems do relate to poor leadership in managing the city. Unluckily, most of the city residents don't have the proper awareness to take care of the environment.

Perhaps, public campaigns on healthy living and a sense of discipline would help deal with the (water) problem.

Henri, is a supervisor at a private property company located on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. The unmarried man has been living in Sunter, North Jakarta for 12 years:

Frankly, I cannot stand the water crisis any longer. The salty groundwater in Sunter is not fit for consumption.

We can't use it for washing and bathing. My car easily corrodes as I had washed it with the salty groundwater.

I believe that in general the water in the city is severely contaminated due to environmental damage.

Worse still, the quality of groundwater has also become inferior due to excessive exploitation, among other things.

I'm sure that we will lack groundwater, because of uncontrolled exploitation, in the future.

The common practice of disposing of industrial waste (directly into the waterways) has contributed to water pollution.

I just wonder why the city administration officials don't take the problem seriously.