Tap water supply drops due to canal damage

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has called for Jakartans to be patient over disruptions to the city's tap water supply following a rupture of the West Tarum canal in West Java.

The rupture, which occurred on Dec. 9, has reduced the volume of water passing through the city's treatment plants in Buaran and Pulogadung in East Jakarta and Pejompongan in Central Jakarta by 41 percent. The usual volume of water passing through the plants is 16.3 cubic meters per second, but this has dropped to only 9.7 cubic meters, he explained.

"I hope people are patient enough and understand that the damage that has occurred was beyond our control. The canal was built in 1960 and is now in a state of disrepair," he said.

Sutiyoso said that the Jatiluhur Dam Authority, which is responsible for maintenance work on the canal, had estimated that repair work would take around one month to complete.

"We need about one month to undertake repair work in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Works, the city water company PDAM Jaya and its private partners," he said.

The governor also urged people to be conservative in their use of water and to avoid wasting it.

A city administration circular said that the tap water supply to East and North Jakarta had been cut by 45 percent. In Central, South and the central part of North Jakarta, flows have been reduced by 30 percent. No details were available of disruptions to the supply in West Jakarta.

Sutiyoso said city residents could request the delivery of water tanks if they were faced with water shortages.

Water tanks

The head of PDAM Jaya, Rama Boedi told SCTV television that his company had prepared 70 water tanks in anticipation of shortages in certain areas.

Asked whether the authority would compensate Jakartans for the inconvenience caused by the rupture, Sutiyoso said: "I can't answer that question".

Agus Pambagio, who is the vice chairman of the Indonesian Consumers Organization (YLKI), said that PDAM Jaya's regular customers should not be given water bills while the supply is disrupted.

"The authorities should compensate customers for the sake of fair play because customers are punished immediately if they violate certain regulations, like late payment of water bills.

"The same measures should apply to the water supplier," he pointed out.

Nani Sariati of Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ), one of two companies which, along with PDAM Jaya, manage the water supply in eastern Jakarta, said her company would consider the suggestions made by YLKI.

"We can't give an immediate answer. We'll first need to discuss the matter with the city administration and Pam Lyonnaise Jaya (or Palyja, which supplies western Jakarta)," she said.

Nani, who is the company's sales and marketing manager, said that TPJ had prepared 26 water tanks each containing three to five tons of water for people caught short by the reduced supply.

She said that TPJ had already delivered 140 tons of water to various parts of the capital, including Kramat Lontar, Cempaka Putih and Matraman in East Jakarta and Gatot Subroto hospital in Central Jakarta.

"We have yet to receive any request from businesses like hotels or factories. Usually these sorts of places have an alternative supply of water," she said.

Laliep Kohongia, media relations officer for Palyja, said that her company had prepared 27 water tanks for emergency distribution.

Those needing water should contact Palyja on 5741921, fax number 5724430. TPJ can be contacted on 5772010. (ind)