Council rejects hike in water fees

JAKARTA (JP): A city council commission rejected on Wednesday a proposed 6 percent to 43 percent hike in tap water fees, saying many residents were still disappointed with the city's water service.

The secretary of Commission C for economic affairs, Aziz Boeang, said: "The city water companies have yet to provide Jakartans with good quality water and service."

The proposition will be further discussed by the council next month.

Speaking after a council plenary session on the proposed 2000- 2001 budget, Aziz said most of the pipes used in the city's water network were inadequate, resulting in brackish water and irregular distribution.

Governor Sutiyoso announced the proposal on Tuesday, saying the increase, first suggested three years ago, was needed to overcome the deficit water companies were running as a result of rising operating costs.

Sutiyoso said city water company PT PAM Jaya had suffered losses totaling Rp 300 billion since 1997.

Another councillor, Tjuk Sudono of the National Mandate Party (PAN), also rejected an across-the-board hike in tap water rates, saying the people's purchasing power had yet to recover from the crisis.

"It is better to only increase the fees for affluent families and commercial customers such as luxury apartments and large businesses," said the member of the commission for developmental affairs.

Indah Suksmaningsih from the Indonesian Consumers Foundation said: "I have not seen any improvements in (water companies) service or water quality."

She also said the city water companies were required to provide the community with not only clean water, but potable water.

To overcome rising operating costs, Tjuk said water companies should place a limit on the amount of water allotted for customers, with a penalty for those violating the limit.

"We must educate our community to consume water based on their needs. We can study (the payment system) for electricity bills, which puts a limit on customers," Tjuk said, referring to bills issued by state-run electricity firm PT PLN.

Nurain, a resident of Rawa Badak subdistrict in North Jakarta, said tap water in her area was brackish and had to be filtered before being used for drinking, cooking, laundry or bathing.

"Some of my neighbors also complain the water supply only lasts from about 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day. At night, they have to collect about two drums of water and then filter it," Nurain said.

Susi of Kebon Nenas subdistrict in East Jakarta said she paid Rp 50,000 a month for her water service, but the water was always brackish and often was only available at night. She said her family often had to use a pump to get groundwater, but this also was rather sour in taste.

Indarto from Kalibata subdistrict in South Jakarta said he could detect the smell of chlorine in the brackish tap water at his house, and he only used the water for laundry and bathing.

"I have to order about four gallons of (mineral water) every month for (cooking and drinking). I also often find some drops of foam in the groundwater," added Indarto.

Danof Daniel from Kebon Jeruk in West Jakarta said he had not received a water bill since June. "I disapprove of the plan to increase the tap water rates if the service continues this way."

However, he said he was totally dependent on the tap water because he could not get groundwater in the dry season.

Sadio of Pondok Kelapa in East Jakarta said a number of times he found his water meter showed different levels of consumption compared to the bill he received from PT Thames Pam Jaya. (07)