Perumda Air Minum Surakarta, with supports from USAID IUWASH PLUS, conducted a press tour to introduce Lampu Jawa—a Regular Desludging Services program (LLTT) to local and national journalists in Surakarta city on July 24, 2018. The tour was held to inform public about Perumda Air Minum Surakarta’s LLTT program, including its benefits, operations, and tariff, as an effort to provide community members with better access to safely-managed sanitation. At the same time, Perumda Air Minum Surakarta used the event to share information on the Mayor Regulation N0.5/2018 on the Tariff of The Regular Desludging Services, and the Mayor Regulation No.6/2018 on the tariff of Off-site Wastewater Management System (SPALTS).
The Executive Director of Perumda Air Minum Surakarta, Maryanto, and USAID IUWASH PLUS Central Java Regional Manager, Jefry Budiman, explained about the local government LLTT policy and its development process. Nanang Pirmono, the Head of Domestic Wastewater Division of Perumda Air Minum Surakarta described the LLTT process. He also mentioned that currently Perumda Air Minum Surakarta had about 55,000 customers, 46,231 of which become the LLTT customers.
During this media tour, the journalists had an opportunity to visit IPLT (Septage Treatmet Plant) Putri Cempo and IPAL (Wastewater Treatment Plant) Mojosongo, and observe their operation. The journalists also had a chance to witness the desludging process in the house of one of the Lampu Jawa customers, Sugiono. “LLTT is helpful for us. I do not mind paying Rp5,000 per month until the upcoming LLTT which is scheduled in the next three years. It is cheaper than the private desludging service which costs Rp350,000 to Rp400,000. Thank you Perumda Air Minum Surakarta,” Sugiono explained the benefits of LLTT.
Before the tour ended, some journalists shared their good thoughts about the press tour and Lampu Jawa. Some journalists said that the press tour helps them understand the LLTT process so that they are in better position to share the information with the public.
Irawan Sapto Adhi from Solo Pos said that this press tour opened the journalists’ eyes on such outstanding works that Perumda Air Minum Surakarta and USAID IUWASH PLUS have conducted. “I highly appreciate Perumda Air Minum Surakarta and USAID IUWASH PLUS for initiating the LLTT. This program will benefit many people and, in the long run, protect the environmental condition,” Irawan Sapto Adhi explained further.
Around 35 journalists from 35 local and national media, such as Solo Pos, Media Indonesia, Antara, TV One, RTI, and SCTV participated in the press tour.
