Sorong. Ekuatorial – Despite of being managed by private sector, Sorong residents were still experiencing clean water issues.
“No water means trouble. I have to pay [water dues] every month but it never runs. I have already reported it but no responds [from the company]. I haven’t paid the bill for two months because it did not run. Instead, I have to buy 20 liters of water for Rp 2,000 each barrel,” complained Zubaedah, a mother of five, a resident of Remu Selatan sub district.
Similar experience also happened to Rabiah, who has been containing rain water for daily consumption because of bad water quality from PT Tirta Remu, the company tasked to supply water to the resident.
“If someone said that the water stinks, I don’t take it. I prefer to use rain water in the container or buy them from other residents,” she said.
As a result, residents are used to queue to buy water from tank cars size of 5,000 liters and 1,200 liters. For the city, 5,000 liters is sold for Rp 250,000 but for out of city, it can reach up to Rp 1,500,000.
Yusuf, one of the resident, said that he would need to buy the water for Rp 55,000. Ironically, a total of 108 water tanks are owned by PT Tirta Remu which supposed to supply the water to residents.
PT Tirta Remu decline to comment on the matter. Niken Proboretno.