PDAM to increase water rates

PDAM to increase water rates

TANGERANG: Tangerang's state-owned tap water company, Kerta
Rejasa (PDAM), plans to double its tap water prices beginning in
July because of increases in fuel prices and electricity rates,
an official said on Monday.

It has been three years since the company increased water
rates while electricity rates and fuel prices have risen several
times in that period, PDAM spokesman Imam Fachri said.

He said the increased revenue from the water price hike would
be used to build new tap water installations in the northern
districts of Tangerang.

The current price of tap water in Tangerang is Rp 700 per
kiloliter.

PDAM produces 3,000 kiloliters of water per day. Some 400
kiloliters of the water is provided to Jakarta's state-owned tap
water company, PAM JAYA, while the rest is distributed to 84,000
customers across the municipality and the regency.

But a regency legislative council member, Samsudin, of
Commission C on finance is opposed to the rate increase, saying
that if PDAM wants to built new installations, it should not be
financed by increasing its tap water prices.--JP