Bali Governor: get that water flowing

The island’s water supply has reached crisis level and Bali’s governor, Made Mangku Pastika has asked the management of the regional state-owned tap water company (PDAM) to step it up, reported the Bali Times. PDAM should especially target Denpasar and Badung, Pastika urged. 

Pastika reportedly explained that the water crisis results from lacking water channels from PDAM to the public. To throw in another confusing acronym, Pastika supposedly asked PDAM to complete an installation of the public drinking water supply system (SPAM) in Petanu, Gianyar (eastern Bali). Apparently there are three engines that filter and pump water in Petanu, but only one is working at the time of writing. There, three engines are supposed to get clean water across three regencies: Denpasar, Badung and Gianyar. 

Based on the Times’ report, because only one machine is up and running, the machines can only generate 90-100 liters clean water per second, but they should produce 300 liters/second.

“It was probably the management issues,” said Pastika as quoted by the Times. A sly nudge in PDAM’s side.

The clean water crisis in Denpasar and south Badung has been ongoing for the past few weeks and villagers in Tanjung Benoa and Kutuh have had to rough it on their own, buying their own extra water to meet household needs. 

Bali’s water situation is not so hot right now. The island is also facing drought issues while anxiously waiting for rainy season. In Karangasem, villagers even have to walk 5K for their water in part because of plumbing issues that PDAM previously apologized for. 

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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