Water firm reports illegal connections

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