Rorotan residents cry for clean water

Rorotan residents cry for clean water

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of Rorotan subdistrict in Cilincing,
North Jakarta, expressed concern to the city administration on
Friday over chronic drinking water shortages.

The residents said they had been forced to purchase water for
years from local neighborhood community heads, who oversaw water
tanks provided by the city-owned tap water company PDAM Jaya.

The underground water in the area is salty and undrinkable.

They demanded that the city administration improve water
distribution in the area, which is located on the northern tip of
the city, to help ease the problem.

The existing distribution system forces residents to buy water
at the tanks and carry it home in jerry cans, Nawiyah, a local
resident, said.

"This system doesn't always run smoothly. We couldn't get
water from the tanks for four days one time because PDAM did not
come to refill them," she said.

Nawiyah also complained that the poor water distribution
system compounded people's problems stemming from the economic
crisis since the water prices had increased along with other
basic necessities.

"The problem seems far from over and we have to face hikes in
water prices on top of it all," she said, adding that water
tariffs had been increased between Rp 300 and Rp 400 per 20
liters in the last two months.

Nawiyah, whose husband makes Rp 10,000 (83 U.S. cents) a day,
said her family of six children had no other choice but to reduce
their water consumption. A 20 liter jerry can now has to take
care of their needs for a two day period, she explained.

Subdistricts

Rorotan subdistrict head Suwarso said the area was one of the
city's most underdeveloped subdistricts, with 230 families living
under the poverty line.

The lack of drinking water is mainly due to the fact that the
subdistrict is isolated, located in the middle of rice fields, he
said.

He said PDAM had provided four permanent water tanks, each
with a capacity of 8,000 liters, to facilitate the distribution
of water to local residents.

Rorotan's residents suffered from a severe water shortage
during last year's dry season, with many unable to bathe
regularly.

Sumah, another resident, said the local people depended
heavily on water supplied by PDAM. "All of us are frequently
forced to buy water in large quantities to anticipate any
possible delayed shipments from PDAM," she said.

Responding to residents' complaints, Governor Sutiyoso, who
visited the area on Friday, admitted that the water distribution
system was still in need of improvement.

"There are still, indeed, things which should be straightened
out related to water distribution. I've told PDAM and its foreign
partners that the focus of their (water service) cooperation
should be better water distribution," he said.

PDAM cooperates with Britain's Thames Water Overseas Ltd. and
French company Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux to manage water production
in the city. (ind)