'City administration isn't serious about water problems'

'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.