Tap water supply drops due to canal damage

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)