Water supply may return to normal within two weeks

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of thousands of Jakartans will live with less or even no tap water in the next two weeks while the government rebuilds the collapsed West Tarum dike in Kali Malang, East Jakarta.

The central government, in cooperation with city water companies and state water company Perum Jasa Tirta II, is currently working on the collapsed dike.

Director general of water resources at the Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno, said on Wednesday that the construction work would be completed within two weeks.

Soenarno said that his office, along with Jasa Tirta II and city water companies, had reinforced the collapsed part of the dike with some 2,200 plastic sacks filled with soil, supported by bamboo and wood.

"We have had to reduce the water debit from the usual 14 cubic meters per second to only four cubic meter per second. Otherwise, I'm afraid the temporary dike will collapse again," he told a media conference here.

"But hopefully, the dike can be operated again normally on June 6 as planned," Soenarno said, adding that the restoration would cost some Rp 200 million (about US$18,181).

Some 15 to 20 meters of the dike -- which measures 20 meters wide by six meter high, collapsed on Monday afternoon.

As a result, thousands of tap water customers of PT Thames Pam Jaya and PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya in North, East and some parts of Central Jakarta were without water when Perum Jasa Tirta II cut off supplies.

According to Soenarno, there was a leak in the pipe between the dike and the sluice gate which caused a cavity in the dike.

"Because of its own weight and the endless vibration from its surroundings caused by traffic, the dike then collapsed," Soenarno said.

He added that the dike itself is very old, as it was established in 1958.

"There has been regular control and maintenance over the dike. But it is difficult to monitor the piping as it is very deep underground," Soenarno said.

"And it was not equipped with monitoring instruments when it was built," he added.

The dam in Kali Malang, Soenarno said, was actually supported by as inspection road.

"But following subsequent development, it became a public road, so it became more difficult to monitor the dam," he asserted.

The traffic then grew heavier, especially since the government established a toll road.

"The strange thing was, a pillar of the toll road was built right on the dam. The vibration from the traffic and the weight of the pillar then contributed to the collapse," Soenarno said.

Soenarno said that his office will inspect the Kali Malang dike and other areas to assess the possibility of other collapses.

Due to the cessation of water supply, many customers have had to buy water from vendors or get it from neighbors who have an artesian well. (hdn)