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s Jakarta’s population continues to grow far beyond the capacity of the city’s infrastructure, environmental experts say that establishing clean water security is the key to ensuring the capital’s future survival.

“I believe we have enough money to build the needed infrastructure. The only thing that is missing is the city administration’s strong commitment [in the water security issue],” Jakarta Water Resources Council member Firdaus Ali told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on Jakarta’s future development here on Tuesday.

According to him, ideally Jakarta would have a population of 5.5 million to 6.5 million people, far lower than its current population of around 9.6 million people with an additional 1.5 million commuters.

To ensure water security, Firdaus said that the city should take full control of clean water distribution by terminating the contracts between city-owned water company PAM Jaya and its two private operators, PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) and PT Aetra Air Jakarta.

PAM Jaya signed a 25-year water distribution contract with the two operators in 1997.

The contract is based on a full -cost recovery system which means revenue from water bills must cover all operational costs, including investment.

Palyja had claimed to have invested heavily in fixing and replacing damaged water pipes.

PAM currently owes a total of Rp 580 billion (US$65.54 million) in debt to Palyja. By 2022, the debt could possibly swell to Rp 18.2 trillion.

Critics had said that the double financing scheme in the contracts hampered clean water provision for low-income families.

PAM would have to pay a penalty of Rp 3 trillion if it chose to end the contract before its expiration in 2022.

“The administration must take a brave step by ending the contract and paying the penalty. It is better to pay Rp 3 trillion now rather than Rp 18.2 trillion in 2022,” Firdaus said.

He added that he believed PAM would be able to distribute water without the help of the two operators.

He further added that the government should also take serious steps to revitalize the city’s 13 rivers by establishing strict regulations and implementing firm law enforcement to stop people from dumping their waste into the rivers.

Separately, Jakarta Regional Development Planning Board chairwoman Sarwo Handayani said that the city was currently working on a master plan for a city-wide sewer system.

“Hopefully, we can finish the master plan next year,” she told The Jakarta Post, adding that development of the planned sewage system would begin immediately afterward.

Only 2 percent of Jakarta is plumbed into the existing sewerage, the majority of which is in Setiabudi, South Jakarta.

Sarwo said that a city-wide sewerage could hopefully be finished by 2050. (mim)