The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA | Fri, 02/27/2009 2:29 PM
Nuryana, a resident in community unit (RW) 12 in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, was busy fixing three water hoses in the back of a two- by one-meter room sheltering a water jet pump.
He checked whether the hoses were strongly attached to a water pipe coming from a blue water tank in a tower near him.
"These hoses will channel clean water to residents in three different zones," Nuryana told The Jakarta Post recently.
Nuryana is among 60 residents in Penjaringan who will use and operate the newly donated water installation next month.
The installation, which includes a water jet pump, a hydrant tower and water pipeline networks, was donated by US-based NGO Mercy Corps under a program called the Community-Based Water Supply System.
"We helped 60 residents establish a working group to manage the installation," Mercy's project officer for the program, Vincent Hermanus, Pooroe told the Post on Tuesday.
"They have to be responsible for the installation's daily maintenance and make sure that all residents pay their water bills."
To prevent failure in billing payment, Vincent said the group needed to initiate a system ensuring that all members pay their bills on time.
"Because most of the residents earn daily incomes, we have suggested they put some money in a savings box in their house."
"The group also needs to deliver the water billings at least 20 days before the payment is due," Vincent added.
The installation takes clean water from pipes belonging to tap water company PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja).
The residents only need to pay for the water they use with some additional fees to maintain the installation.
"According to our calculations, by using this installation, families can reduce their spending for clean water by almost 50 percent. They will only spend a maximum of Rp 50,000 *US$4.20* each month." he said. (hwa)
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