'Tap water should be free of charge'

'Tap water should be free of charge'

The tap water rate increase that took effect on Jan. 20 was one
of the automatic increases that will take place every six months
for the next five years. The city administration says the money
collected from the increase will be used to pay an outstanding
debt of Rp 938 billion (US$105 million) to its foreign water
company partners. The Jakarta Post ask residents for their
opinion on the issue.

Arief, 33, is a researcher and lecturer at the University of
Indonesia. He lives in Kalibata, South Jakarta:

The impact of the water rate hike? It depends on who's using
it. Most of the users are low-income families who already are
suffering from the recent fuel and gas price hike.

Jakartans are mostly businesspeople, ranging from street
vendors to tycoons, who use large amounts of water.

People can understand an increase in fuel and gas prices, but
water is supposed to be subsidized by the government. The
government should provide water for free because it is a public
resource.

We can hope that the increase will improve service because I
have had only turbid water the last few days.

Meutya, 34, is a wife and mother of two children. She lives in
Jatinegara Baru, East Jakarta:

It's awful to have another rate increase. How come the city
administration doesn't have the decency to lighten the burden on
the people?

I can only appeal, please, no more increases in public utility
rates. It's already hard for us to put food on the table with the
fuel and gas price hike. I would be thankful if the government
would provide free water, like in the U.S.

I will have to be more thrifty. For drinking water we can use
mineral water, but for washing the dishes and clothes, well, that
will be difficult.

Why don't they just cut the salaries of the city councillors
or take the money from the rich to subsidize the water rates. I
hope my children won't have to face these kinds of burdens in the
future.

--The Jakarta Post