Coastal villagers finally start to enjoy clean water
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Thousands of poor villagers in three coastal districts in Tangerang regency can at last enjoy clean water from public faucets.
They are also able to save some of the money they were previously forking out daily -- to quench their thirst, to wash and to bathe -- as water is now a fraction of the price.
The villagers in Teluk Naga, Pakuhaji and Kresek districts were given access to clean water after the regency environmental agency (DLH) built a water reservoir and installed 18 public water faucets.
"The water faucets are located in seven villages in the three districts and can supply water to more than 20,000 villagers," said the head of the agency, Deden Sugandi, on Monday.
The construction project, which commenced in 2000, is part of a project initiated by the Ministry of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure. The ministry allocated Rp 1.44 billion (US$169,412) from the state budget to serve the needs of the villagers.
"We used to buy a jerry can of clean water for Rp 750 from vendors. With the water faucets, we only have to spend Rp 200 per jerry can," said Warsidin, a resident of Tanjung Burung village in Teluk Naga district.
The public water faucets are operated 24-hours by the Keswadayaan Masyarakat, a local organization comprising of noted figures in the area.
The money collected from the villagers is paid to the regency- owned Tirta Kerta Raharja tap water company (PDAM) that supplies the water from Bojong Renged river.
The project officer, Beta Iriawan, said that villagers in coastal areas had been suffering from water shortages for 10 years.
"This program is aimed at helping poor residents get clean water. Regent Ismet Iskandar said earlier that people living in coastal areas would enjoy clean water this year," he said.
Beta claimed that a survey conducted by the ministry shows that the project is the best of its kind in the country.
"We plan to install more water pipelines and water faucets, as far as Mauk and Kronjo districts, to enable 15,000 residents in both areas to enjoy clean water next year," he said.