37 Drowning Pipes Swept By Flood, 4,000 PDAM Customers In Ende Threatened By Clean Water Crisis

Floods in Ende Regency (ANTARA/HO)

ENDE - A total of 37 clean water pipes belonging to PDAM Ende, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) were swept away by the flood.

Director of PDAM PT Tirta Kelimutu, Yustinus Sani, said that due to dozens of clean water pipelines being carried away by floods, the city of Ende was threatened with a clean water crisis.

"Dozens of our pipes were carried away by the flood. So that around four thousand PDAM customers are threatened with a clean water crisis," he said when contacted from Kupang, Antara, Thursday, January 20.

He said that a number of pipes that were washed away by the flood were aid pipes from the Hungarian government for their concern for clean water in the Ende area. Losses due to the tens of pipes being carried away by flood currents are estimated to reach Rp. 500 million.

Yustinus added that apart from the pipes that were washed away by the flood currents, other supporting facilities were also carried away by the flood currents.

With this damage, clean water services will be served by tankers, especially in the Roworeke area.

The shortage of pipes will disrupt the distribution of clean water in the Ende urban area.

"Usually the schedule for opening water is every two days. However, because there is a shortage of pipes, the schedule for running water will be done every 5-6 days," he added.

He appealed to the public to be patient, because his party will try to fix it as soon as possible. For the period of time, he said, they are still waiting for the weather in the area to stabilize.

"Moreover, the damage is quite severe, so it takes time to repair," said Yustinus.