Water shortages hit Mataram

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Parts of Mataram, including Senggigi Beach resort, have been hit by water shortages during peak hours because of heavy use, the town's water authority said on Monday.

Partu, president of city-owned PDAM Menang Mataram, told Antara that during the current dry season, most big users like hotels relied solely on water supplied by his agency.

In contrast, during the rainy season, they turned to groundwater entirely and rarely used PDAM water, Partu said, blaming this practice for causing groundwater resources to dry up.

He cited the example of the Holiday Inn in Senggigi Beach, which, because of the drop in the rate of water piped by PDAM, has had to be supplemented by three water trucks a day from PDAM. (07)