Water firm reports illegal connections

JAKARTA: Tapped water operator PT Thames Pam Jaya unveiled on Friday that it has since January 2005 uncovered over 600 illegal connections in 13 areas in North and East Jakarta municipalities.

TPJ Customer Service and Operations Director Graham Holt said in a statement that most of the illegal connections were found on Jl. Bisma Timur 2 and Papanggo in North Jakarta.

"We are not going to slow down our efforts to remove illegal connections and this year we intend to be even more vigilant in our bid to stop this practice," Holt said. He did not say how much his company lost to the illegal connections.

Following tips from local residents, the company has since early this year conducted inspections in 13 areas including Gading Permai, Tipar Cakung, Dewa Ruci, Sindang, Enggano, Podomoro and Martadinata.

Water theft was done by either tampering with water meters or removing them in their entirety, thereby avoiding payment for water used.

Holt said a number of individuals involved in water theft have been processed by police authorities and would be brought to the courts in the coming weeks. --JP