Water rates to rise for maintenance

BOGOR (JP): The Bogor office of city-owned tap water company PDAM is to raise water tariffs by November to, among other factors, maintain the strength of the water pipes.

"Broken water pipes will take longer to repair if water rates are not raised soon. Bacteria or worms could enter pipes that are in disrepair and nobody wants to drink that (kind of) water," PDAM Bogor director Daslim Saibi told reporters on Saturday.

"Water rates have been constant for the past four years," he said.

Daslim added that despite the rise in November, rates would still be much cheaper that current water rates in Greater Jakarta, particularly Tangerang and Bekasi.

He said that chemicals, water meters and pipes needed by PDAM were usually imported and with the fluctuating rate of the rupiah to the dollar, these items were currently costing PDAM up to 300 percent more at present.

Rates for households in the low-income bracket will be raised from Rp 3,000 to Rp 3,500 for at least 10 cubic meters of water; Rp 5,000 to Rp 5,700 for 15 cubic meters of water; and from Rp 7,000 to Rp 8,000 for 20 cubic meters of water or more.

Tariffs for middle-income households will be raised from Rp 3,000 to Rp 4,500 for at least 10 cubic meters; Rp 5,250 to Rp 7,500 for 15 cubic meters; and from Rp 7,500 to Rp 10,500 for 20 cubic meters.

Tariffs for high-income households will be raised from Rp 4,500 to Rp 12,000 for at least 10 cubic meters; Rp 7,500 to Rp 13,000 for 15 cubic meters; and from Rp 10,500 to Rp 19,000 for 20 cubic meters. (21/ylt)