Purwakarta Regent Asks For An Increase In PDAM Baku Water Tariffs Reviewed

IIustration - PDAM raw water. (ANTARA/doc)

PURWAKARTA - Purwakarta Regent Anne Ratna Mustika asked Jasa Tirta (PJT) II Jatiluhur to review the increase or policy of implementing a new standard water tariff or water resource management service for Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM). "I object to the increase in raw water rates applied by Perum Jasa Tirta II. It will burden the cost of producing PDAM," said Anne in Karawang, Antara, Tuesday, February 7. Based on the Decree of the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Number: 27/KPTS/M/2023, there has been an increase in the tariff for water resource management for PDAM. In accordance with this decision, it is stated that in 2022 the tariff for water resource management for PDAM is IDR 130.81 per cubic meter. Furthermore, in 2023 it is adjusted to IDR 141.27 per cubic meter. For imposing the water resource management service tariff for PDAM, the regent admitted that he would send a letter to Perum Jasa Tirta II Jatiluhur. Anne admitted that she objected to the tariff increase, because it would have an impact on the production costs of Perumdam Gapura Tirta Rahayu which would lead to an increase in the rates felt by customers. "If the raw water tariff increases, PDAM will certainly increase the water tariff for customers," he said. He said that for years, the Purwakarta PDAM had not raised the water tariff to customers, due to the economic condition of the people of Purwakarta which had not stabilized 100 percent after the pandemic. "If the water tariff increases, this will increase the burden on the people of Purwakarta," he said. Meanwhile, the Decree of the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Number: 27/KPTS/M/2023 dated January 12 does not only apply to PDAM. Industry also feels an increase in the tariff for water resource management services. For industry, the tariff increase is from IDR 224.71 per cubic meter in 2022 to IDR 244.93 per cubic meter in 2023. (KR-MAK)