People, govt must join hands to curb pollution

The public cannot deny the fact that water quality in the capital is deteriorating due to poor public and industry awareness on the environment. Some people shared with The Jakarta Post their concerns upon seeing the reality of our water condition that is deemed severely contaminated and polluted.

Mistono, 23, a worker belonging to a cleaning service company posted at the Ministry of Forestry. He resides in Pondok Ranji, Bintaro after moving from Wonogiri, Central of Java four years ago:

Generally speaking, the city water has been badly contaminated because people in the city tend to be irresponsible by dumping garbage improperly. Industry, too, has contributed to the groundwater contamination.

In my opinion around 90 percent of the city river and groundwater has been seriously contaminated.

I don't know who should be held responsible for the condition. Regardless of who is to blame, the key is poor public awareness on this and other environmental issues.

Perhaps better communication and cooperation between the people and the government could result in an integrated way to cope with the problem.

Sarino, 40, a driver of a retired government official. He resides in Bintaro with his two children and wife. He has been working as a private driver for six years:

As I always move around the city, I observe that almost all water in the city is polluted. The dirty water reflects severe pollution.

According to my observations, only the southern part of Jakarta is deemed safe, at least, the ground water in some areas is still consumable.

Industry deserves to be blamed for the chronic contamination of water here, I think.

Perhaps reviewing and tight monitoring of the implementation of environment-related regulations for industrial zones would help preserve superior groundwater.

In my opinion, industries should operate waste treatment plants in a transparent manner. In this way the public could monitor the treatment process.

Toim, 40, a security guard at the Ministry of Forestry in Jakarta. He has been working at the Ministry and living for 20 years with his wife and two children in Ciledug, Tangerang:

I have no doubt that the water in the city has been severely polluted.

The fact that fish can no longer live in the water is obvious proof that the water is no good. I heard that the water has hazardous pollutants such as lead which is dangerous to human health.

My house is located in an area bordering Jakarta with a neighboring province, yet I find the ground water is not worth drinking. Locals said that the plot where my housing complex now stands was previously a swamp. Therefore the groundwater is of no good quality. But I think pollution has deteriorated the groundwater quality. Therefore, I have to buy clean water for drinking and cooking every week.