City gets first water ambassadors

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 03/25/2006 8:51 AM  |  Jakarta

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Muhammad Abdul Wahab, a fifth grader at private Islamic elementary school SDIT Al-Manar in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, is taking a new subject: water.

Elected as one of Jakarta's water ambassadors, Wahab is learning all about water, including how to make dirty water suitable for drinking.

""I like the subject. I spend a couple of hours after school three times a week learning about water issues,"" he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Muhammad is one of nine students elected as Jakarta's Water Ambassadors for 2006 by Thames Water's Indonesian arm.

The others are Amanda Isa, Yenny Afran and Fauzia Yuliana, first graders at State Junior High School SMPN 109 in East Jakarta; Bunga Denti, Indah Nur Wijayanti and Muhammad Ansyah, fifth graders at State Primary School SDN 11, Jatinegara, East Jakarta; and Erni Asih and Zahrah Muna, from SDIT Al-Manar.

Devy Yheanne, the public relations officer of the local firm of the British utility, PT Thames PAM Jaya, said the program was aimed at students between the ages of nine and 13.

""We want students to take part in saving water and the environment from a tender age,"" she said.

It is the duty of water ambassadors to spread the word on how to save water in daily life.

""We hope the water ambassadors can carry out simple experiments and research on water issues and hold campaigns at their respective schools,"" she said.

PT Thames PAM Jaya is primarily responsible for the supply of clean water, distribution and billing in Jakarta.

The nine young ambassadors visited the company's water processing unit in Buaran, East Jakarta, on Thursday, to see contaminants being removed from raw water to produce drinking water.

""This is the first time I've seen the purifying process. It's quite complicated,"" Muhammad said.

""We are still lucky because we have access to potable water. It is a luxury that many people cannot afford. From what I see here, the water we drink is not at first clean. This complicated process makes it clean,"" he said.

Amanda said she planned to promote the importance of saving water at her school.

""I will distribute brochures to my schoolmates. I also hope to organize a concert at my school,"" she said.

Amanda, who wants to be a doctor, said saving water started in the home.

""I often remind my mother to be economical with water when she's doing the washing,"" she said.

She also expressed concern over the pollution of the city's waterways.

""The riverwater is too dirty. I am afraid Jakarta will face a water crisis unless people stop disposing of waste in city rivers,"" she said.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.