Almost 500 villages facing water scarcity

The Jakarta Post, Wed, 09/14/2011

Almost 500 villages throughout the nation are facing a water scarcity due to the long drought season, says the Public Works Ministry.

The villages spread in Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi.

The Public Works Ministry said it would develop drinking water system in 153 the troubled villages.

The ministry also mobilized a mobile water processing installation and 140 units of water tank cars to refill 280 public hydrants in the villages.

“We are trying to refine sea water in Sampang, Madura with a capacity of 10 liters per second,” said Director of Drinking Water at the Public Works Ministry Danny Sutjiono as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday.

However, he said the cost for such a refinery system was higher than refining river water.