Tue, 31 May 2005

Jambi faces water shortage

JAMBI, Jambi: Water company PDAM Tirta Mayang has not supplied water to four of the city's 10 districts for three days.

Some 400,000 residents have been affected by the shortage, forcing them draw water from wells on the outskirts of the city.

"We have to find clean drinking water on the city's outskirts because we can't afford to buy bottled mineral water," Rahman, a resident, said on Monday.

PDAM Tirta Mayang spokesman Yusnidar said the company had been forced to reduce production from the usual 900 liters per second to 600 liters per second due to the low level of Batanghari River. "The tap water distribution will return to normal in a few days," she said. -- JP