Foul-smelling water on West Jakarta street due to PAM Jaya project

Jakarta - Foul-smelling water along Jalan Satu Maret in Pegadungan, Kalideres, West Jakarta is the result of a water pipeline installation project by the State Water Company (PAM Jaya).

“That is PAM’s work. According to neighbourhood chiefs, PAM dumped its excavation sludge into the Jalan Satu Maret drainage channel,” said Purwanti Suryandari, Deputy Head of the West Jakarta Water Resources Office (Kasudin SDA Jakbar), when reached in Jakarta on Monday.

Purwanti confirmed that PAM Jaya will be asked to immediately undertake drainage cleaning. “PAM will be instructed to clean out the drainage,” she said.

Furthermore, Purwanti said the issue has been coordinated with the Public Works Agency and PAM Jaya. “It is being coordinated by the Public Works Agency to PAM,” she explained.

On Monday afternoon, drainage water formed a small pool measuring 2 by 3 metres at the roadside. The road edge also appeared damaged from water seepage. Project barriers blocking one lane remained in place around the location.

The excavation area bore signage reading “Water pipeline service improvement efforts underway” accompanied by PAM Jaya’s call centre number.

Although the excavation appeared to have been completed with several excavation points already covered with soil and cement, the project barriers blocking the road remained in place.

Dodi, a 64-year-old car park attendant at a nearby minimarket, said black drainage water flooding began when the pipe excavation project commenced.

The black water not only damaged the road but also produced a foul odour that significantly disrupted residents’ activities and local economic activity. The smell was directly felt by Dodi and workers and customers inside the minimarket.

According to him, the drainage smell frequently entered the minimarket premises. “Customers suffer inside the shop; when people step on the drainage water from outside and enter, the smell comes inside too,” he said.