Adi Warsono, Jakarta – Nur Hidayati, a resident of Bulak Perwira, North Bekasi allegedly contracted skin disease after using PAM (Water Utility Company) water provided by regional public company Tirta Patriot.
Over the past few days, the water distributed by the company was polluted by industrial waste. The polluted water looked dark and emanated an unpleasant smell.
Nur said that she initially thought her skin disease was caused by the high level of air pollution. "I went to the doctor and they forbid me to shower with the PAM water, so I use refill water instead," she said when met on Monday, September 18, 2023.
Nur recalled that her body felt itchy after using the PAM water for everyday activities. According to Nur, the water supply from Tirta Patriot looked green and smelly for several days.
It cost Nur Rp2 million to treat her skin disease at the hospital. The doctor, she said, mentioned that there were several patients with similar conditions to her coming to the hospital already.
Nur confessed that she has given up PAM water now, and chose to make a groundwater well as a clean water source. She felt disappointed with Tirta Patriot Bekasi for lackluster services despite the price Nur had to pay for it.
According to Nur, PAM water from Tirta Patriot costs a lot more than it was before. "I had to pay Rp160,000 to Rp200,000 just for this [polluted] water, and [Tirta Patriot] failed to give me any solution, they just said 'We apologize'," she remarked.
Currently, Bekasi River, the water source for Tirta Patrior is polluted by an alleged industrial waste. For three days, Tirta Patriot halted their water production due to the pollution, leaving around 40,000 users in Bekasi City without water. The residents of Bekasi were forced to purchase refilled water for their everyday activities such as showering and doing laundry.