Customers complain over tap water shortage

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)