Jakarta poor still fighting for tap water

Harry Surjadi
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Jakarta / Sat, October 12, 2019 / 09:31 am

Jakarta poor still fighting for tap water

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), in 2019 poor household income (with four to five family members) is Rp 3,358,360 (US$ 236.82) per month in Jakarta. Every day one household has to spend Rp 40,000 on clean water or Rp 1.2 million per month, which is 36 percent of monthly income. The poor cannot get piped water because they lack legal property rights. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)

Clean water is an expensive product for most residents of North Jakarta, especially poor households. Not only do they pay more than people who live in apartments, they must work harder to access clean water. They push carts carrying six water containers to a pumping station or wait for a water vendor. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), in 2019 poor household income (with four to five family members) is Rp 3,358,360 (US$ 236.82) per month in Jakarta. Every day one household has to spend Rp 40,000 on clean water or Rp 1.2 million per month, which is 36 percent of monthly income. The poor cannot get piped water because they lack legal property rights. In the Dutch colonial era, piped water was mostly for the Dutch or European neighborhoods so most of the Europeans had piped water. The poor and indigenous inhabitants had to access water from public water tap or water vendors. ...