Water woes not about to subsidize anytime soon

Sumber:The Jakarta Post - 07 Februari 2006
Kategori:Air Minum
Jakarta's water hazards are not limited to the now perennial inundation of the city during the rainy season.

For many Jakartans, whether they live in the city's upscale suburbs or run-down neighborhoods, finding water to meet their daily involves a difficult, often costly route.

Well-heeled residents can pay up to have mineral water delivered to their door for drinking purposes, while their poorer neighbors must make do with groundwater boiled to rid it of its many impurities.

A precious commodity that everybody needs, the quest for clean water has proven a gold mine for some companies and the city authorities.

That is despite the deteriorating quality of the city's water sources -- victims of indiscriminate dumping of untreated household and industrial waste -- and notoriously poor water service.

Water rates were supposed to go up this month, but Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has yet to approve them. It's a sensitive issue; the governor is torn between increasing the rates and also listening to complaints of consumers, already hard hit by the fuel charge hikes of last year.

Post Date : 07 Februari 2006