'Rich people would never drink tap water'

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 03/22/2007 4:21 PM | Jakarta

Many people in the city lack access to clean and affordable drinking water. This has an impact on every aspect of their lives, from health to employability. In conjunction with World Water Day, which falls on March 22, The Jakarta Post asked some people about the issue.

Pipin, in her 30s, is a human resources management consultant. She lives in Depok, West Java:

Many residents of Greater Jakarta encounter difficulties in accessing clean water. The quality of the city's water, including tap water, is unreliable.

I have no problem getting water from the state-owned water company (PDAM), although I do wonder whether the water it supplies is fit for human consumption.

Tap water should be tested regularly, but this is easier said than done.

I urge the government to pay more attention to the sale of bottled ionized water in the city. It may be more affordable than mineral water but I am not convinced it's OK to drink. I tried it once and found it contained sediment.

Yara, 28, is a sales executive. She lives with her brother in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta:

Access to water is a basic human right. It's a tragedy -- and an embarrassment for the government -- that so many poor people are forced to buy drinking water.

People living in the suburbs are particularly vulnerable. The poor in this city face so many problems. They have no other choice but to spend money on water, even though it's already hard for them to make ends meet.

People who earn reasonable money would never dream of drinking tap water. They don't think twice about buying bottled water. But, of course, that's not the way it ought to be.

The government must take the time to address the city's water issues. --The Jakarta Post

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