Water scarcity affects many areas

JAKARTA (JP): Across the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java, many have begun to feel the pinch of this year's prolonged drought as clean water becomes scarce and expensive.

As reported by Antara over the last three days, local authorities in the towns of Jambi, Padang, Samarinda and several areas in Central Java have complained about the decreasing water supply.

Though claiming to have everything under control so far, they expressed concern about the devastating effect of the drought if it continued.

Spokesman of Padang city administration in West Sumatra, Edwar, said over the weekend that despite the decrease in the volume of the Batang Air Dingin River and the Air Gunung Pangilun spring, residents still have an ample water supply from wells drilled long before the drought.

"For the moment, they serve us well. But the reserve will eventually run out if the drought continues," he said.

In the northern Sumatra province of Jambi, the director of the Tirta Mayang water company, Surihamsyah, said the water supply in the region was affected by the decreasing volume of the Batanghari River, which is the company's source of water.

He promised, however, that despite the smaller supply, the company would still meet the need for clean water in remote areas. But he called on residents to economize consumption.

"We are hopeful that residents will be able to buy and use the company's clean water supply for drinking and cooking so they can prevent diarrhea," Surihamsyah said.

The water company distributes a daily water supply to remote water-scarce areas in 20 tanker trucks with a capacity of 4,000 liters each. Each gallon of water is sold for Rp 100 (US$.036).

In Samarinda, East Kalimantan, the local state-run water company stopped its water supply to customers last Thursday. The Mahakam River, which is the company's source of water, became too salty due to sea water intrusion.

Antara reported that locals spend around Rp 3,000 for a bottle of drinking water. They buy water from roaming water vendors.

Every day since Thursday, from 4:30 a.m. until 6:30 a.m. and from 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., hundreds of residents in the Samarinda districts of Teluk Lerong Ulu, Teluk Lerong Ilir and Karang Asam bathe and do their laundry in the salted Mahakam River. The town has a population of around 400,000 people.

Many residents have called on the water company to start production again, but the head of the local water company, Djohansyah, said it was not possible.

"We would ruin our water processor because of the high salt concentration in the river water," he was quoted as saying.

The city administration, however, has drilled 16 deep wells to help meet the demand for fresh water.

Meanwhile, in Central Java, drought has also hit the regencies of Grobogan, Kendal, Blora, Rembang, Cilacap, Karanganyar, Sukoharjo, Wonogiri, Cilacap, Pati, Sragen, Banjarnegara, Kebumen and Klaten. (aan)