Water crisis hits Larantuka

Water crisis hits Larantuka

LARANTUKA, East Nusa Tenggara: A clean water crisis has
affected about 25,000 residents on Solor Island, about 10
kilometers south of here.

Residents said Tuesday that water shortages have occurred
every dry season since 1986, when a major well built by the local
Catholic church in the 1960s was devastated by a lack of
maintenance.

The water from the spring was distributed via a 50 kilometer
piping system and used to be a main source of drinking water for
Solor residents. The system was neglected after the foundation's
chief died in 1986.

They fear that illnesses might break out if the water crisis
continues and the local government does not do anything to
address the problem.

"About 25,000 residents throughout Solor Island have been hard
hit by the crisis," said a resident, Yosef Kaha. "Since the
government hasn't done anything to rehabilitate the water
distribution system, more and more people are using salt water
for their daily needs." (yac/pan)