City told to build water pipeline

Indah Setiawati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 07/02/2009 8:45 PM  |  Jakarta

The Jakarta Water Regulatory Body (BR PAM) suggested Thursday that the city administration build a pipeline connecting the Jatiluhur reservoir in the West Java town of Purawakarta to the city's water operator’s plants to avoid contamination from intersecting rivers.

“Currently, the supply of water comes from Kalimalang River, which intersects polluted rivers like Bekasi River,” BR PAM chief Irzal Djamal said after a meeting with Deputy Governor Prijanto on Thursday.

He said the regulating body proposed the installation of two parallel pipes that each have a 1.5-meter-diameter along Kalimalang River. The project will cost at least Rp 1.5 trillion (US$150 million), but Irzal said it was worth it.

He said the ground water tax hike would require an increase in the raw water supply.

Although the Kalimalang River's water debit could be upgraded by dredging the river soil, it would be hard to maintain the water quality without building the pipes, he said.

Raw water for treatment plants managed by tap water operators PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) and PT Aetra Air Jakarta flows to Jakarta from the Jatiluhur reservoir through the West Tarum Canal system that covers 78 kilometers.  

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