Customers complain over tap water shortage

JAKARTA (JP): Many customers of city-owned water company PDAM Jaya have complained about water shortages over the last few days.

Complaints were made by customers in several areas, including Duren Sawit, East Jakarta; Grogol and Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta and Cilandak, South Jakarta.

Suprapti, a housewife living in Duren Sawit, said yesterday the tap water flow to her house was nonexistent during the day.

"Tap water here does not flow during the day, so we have to pool it at night for daytime use. Moreover, we have to buy mineral water as well, especially for drinking," she said.

Another customer, Lukman Natanegara, said the part of Tanjung Duren where he lived had also experienced shortages over the last three days.

"My neighbors and I are forced to pool tap water at night. And the worst thing is that the water is not clean. It has mud mixed in it," he said.

"It's very disturbing because water is an essential need for people. If we can't get clean water from PDAM, where else can we get it?" Lukman asked.

Complaints about tap water shortages have soared during the current dry season. "But the response is very slow and I'm tired of reporting it," said Santi, a mother of two who lives in Cilandak.

The president of PDAM Jaya, Rama Boedi, said yesterday that the tap water shortages in Tanjung Duren and some parts of Grogol were caused by repairs to pipes and routine maintenance in Pejompongan.

"Because of the repair work, there has been a reduction in water flow from 2,000 cubic meters per seconds to only 1,200 cubic meters per seconds," he said.

Rama said that the repair works were scheduled to finish yesterday. "And to the customers, I'm sorry for the trouble caused by the works. We will do our best to meet their water supply needs," Rama added.

Rama, however, declined to comment on the water shortages in East and South Jakarta, saying that his company was still studying the cases.

He reiterated that the tap water shortages in the city had nothing to do with the long dry season.

Rama had said earlier that PDAM had enough water; 4,500 cubic meters per second from the Buaran water treatment plant and another 2,800 cubic meters per second from the Cisadane tap water installation.

"I want PDAM give us information on its repair works in advance to enable us to make preparations to cope with the situation," Santi said. (07)