'Tap water is unreliable, dirty'

Despite its divestment plan as a way to improve its services, many people are still skeptical about city-owned water company PDAM Jaya. Some shared their concerns with The Jakarta Post, hoping that the firm will improve its services.

Dian, 31, is a housewife who lives in Kayu Jati, East Jakarta, with her husband. She was born in Jakarta:

I don't care whether the city-owned tap water company is privatized or not. I don't care who manages water supply. What I really care about is the product, whether it is good or not.

Other private companies could probably run the water business if given the chance. There are many competent firms that could do it.

However, it would be better if it was a multinational company with reliable technology running the business.

I don't want the government to manage such a business, as it is prone to corruption and monopolistic practices.

Sigit, 31, is a teacher at a private junior and senior high school on Jl. Dewi Sartika, East Jakarta. He lives in Pondok Ungu, Bekasi, with his son and wife:

I think the city-owned tap water company has improved.

I paid around Rp 700,000 to be connected last year. It's much cheaper than the Rp 2 million it charged new customers previously.

Unfortunately, its service is still bad as problems always occur from 6 a.m. up to 12 p.m. when the water pressure is nonexistent.

But I have no choice. I gave up using artesian water two years ago because the water was brownish and unhealthy for cooking and drinking.

So, if the city-owned tap water company is privatized, it should at the same time strive to improve its services.

Andre, 31, is a marketing staff member at a prominent private bank in Jakarta. He resides in Pondok Kacang Prima housing complex in Ciledug, Tangerang, with his wife. He arrived from Yogyakarta three years ago:

The city-owned water supply company has not yet reached the city's remote outer areas. But ironically, when I lived in Gunung Sahari, Central Jakarta, there was no water supply from the company there either. It means that the distribution is still limited to certain areas in the city.

Besides, its poor services and poor water quality have already tarnished its image.

I agree that the company should be privatized because a private company would be much more professional serving the public. So far, the government has fallen short of providing good services due to corrupt officials and poor management.

Realizing the difficulty in getting clean water, I just hope that the new water company will expand its distribution to a wider area so that I can become a customer.

Bambang Budi S., 36, is a public relations officer in a noted organization in Jakarta. He resides in Cilandak, South Jakarta, with his wife. He came to Jakarta 10 years ago from Surakarta, Central Java:

I must say that the water and the service provided by PAM Jaya are poor. We buy dirty water at expensive rates.

Processing water is disgusting since the water is originally dirty and contaminated river water. Frankly, I don't have a favorable image of PDAM Jaya.

Its bad image sometimes affects its customers' behavior. Well, I have to admit that I don't trust the quality of water provided by PDAM Jaya. Isn't the fact that people generally filter tap water proof that they don't trust it?

I think the company needs to provide more information to the public about tap water. In addition, the company should be open to criticism and accommodate complaints in an effort to develop two-way communication between producer and consumer.

Otherwise, public distrust will deepen. Compared to other cities, Jakarta does not provide quality, reliable tap water services.