Joint water management in Greater Jakarta needed

Joint water management in Greater Jakarta needed

JAKARTA (JP): Vice Governor for People's Welfare Affairs of West Java Dedem Ruchlia, emphasized on Saturday the importance of establishing a joint tap water management facility in Greater Jakarta to help improve services.

Speaking on behalf of West Jakarta Governor R. Nuriana at a meeting of the Jabotabek Cooperation Board in Bandung, Ruchlia told Antara joint management was needed to solve a range of problems. High levels of tap water leakage, limited investment funds and a sharp drop in water supplies from reservoirs and lakes were just some of the challenges to be met, he said.

No details were available on the mechanism for the establishment of the join management system.

In addition to the capital, Jabotabek also covers Bekasi, Bogor and Tangerang, which are formally under the jurisdiction of the West Java provincial administration.

Governor Sutiyoso, who led the Jakarta delegation at the meeting, said the first phase of improving the system would include rehabilitation of damaged water reservoirs and lakes, increased establishment of household waste water wells and the expansion of green areas.

Sutiyoso said up to 70 percent of water demand in Jakarta was still supplied by ground water sources.

"This condition is caused by the fact that tap water from city-owned water company PDAM Jaya is still below target in both quantity and quality," he said. (hhr)