Groundwater polluted

SURABAYA, East Java: Residents here consume polluted water because 90 percent of the city's groundwater is contaminated by domestic waste, according to an official.

Head of the regional development planning agency Sadjarwo Sakardiman said here yesterday that only 60 percent of the city's population of 3 million get water from the local water company.

"The rest of the population is supposed to use groundwater, but most of the available supply is polluted," he said.

A study conducted recently by the agency suggested a solution in the form of community septic tanks, rather than one built for every house, in order to reduce contamination.

Sadjarwo said the septic tanks must first be waterproof. Second, they must be located at least 10 meters away from people's living quarters, instead of the way they are currently built. "Many of us live above our own septic tanks," he said.

Sadjarwo said the proposed community septic tanks would be applicable to both new housing areas and old kampongs. (27)