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)