The key problem that plagues most
PDAMs is that service coverage levels are still below
stipulated requirements. In fact, the percentage of
the population that is served by piped water has decreased
in recent years, because the population has increased
faster than the number of connections. Improving the
general and financial management of the PDAMs can be
seen as a major step towards improving service coverage
levels.
Based on previous research, the
general problems faced by most PDAMs can be summarized
as follows:
• low service coverage levels;
• high levels of unaccounted-for-water (UfW);
• low collection efficiencies;
• relatively high production costs;
• tariffs which are below production cost levels;
• very high levels of debt;
• low labor productivity;
• lack of focus with respect to investment planning;
• interference of local parliaments and local
governments in PDAM management.
It can be seen from the above that most
problems are related to managerial and operational matters,
although other problems (notably debt) are also significant.
An effort to restore PDAMs to financial
health must be an optimum result for the PDAM in question,
because any partial solution will lead to impacts which
will not lead to the desired results.
An integrated solution is required, from the side of
the PDAM itself with the support of the local government,
the local parliament, and the central government. A
combined effort is expected to faster realized the desired
outcome. In view of this, a PDAM Health Team (Tim
Penyehatan PDAM) has been created, with members
from various departments such as Kimpraswil, Bappenas,
Depdagri, Depkeu and PERPAMSI with coordination being
provided by the office named Menko Bidang Perekonomian.
At present, this team is considering measures that can
be applied to the improve the performance of the PDAMs,
in consultation with Komisi IV and IX DPR-RI.
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