PAM Jaya to supply water from Tangerang

JAKARTA (JP): The city-owned water company, PAM Jaya, plans to pay the Tangerang branch of the same company for water from the Cisadane river in Tangerang, West Java, as existing raw water processed by the company is often severely polluted, an official says.

PAM Jaya director Bambang Suranto said yesterday that 2,800 liters per second of water from Tangerang will be used to supply clean water to residents in Cengkareng, Kebon Jeruk and Pluit Muara Karang in West Jakarta.

He said the plan is part of the company's program to increase the number of customers to 700,000 by 2001. It currently has 375,598 customers.

"The plan will start in October. The water from Tangerang will be processed at two treatment plants in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, and Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta. Hopefully the clean water will be distributed next year," Bambang said.

He said the raw water currently processed by PAM Jaya is often too polluted to be used as drinking water.

Up to now the city has got most of its raw water from the Citarum river in West Java, through the Jatiluhur dam. The water is bought from the dam's management.

The waterways from the dam to the treatment plants have been spoiled, however. Some industries have dumped their waste directly into the waterways, while household pollutants, including solid waste, are also still high.

The nationwide clean river drives, including the rivers in the capital city, have not yet been able to clear the rivers of pollution.

In the dry season, the water is usually more polluted and the administration claims it would be too costly to buy chemicals to process the highly-polluted water.

Bambang said the company processed a total of 344,222 cubic meters of clean water from its eight treatment plants. (yns)