Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalsel) - The government-owned tap water company PDAM Bandarmasih in Banjarmasin claims tens of meters of water has been stolen, even in four sub-districts.
The Operations Director of Bandarmasih Sofyan PDAM in Banjarmasin on Wednesday said that 25 customers had reported that the water meter had disappeared during November so that the water leaking without being closed.
"So far there have been 25 case reports that we have received from residents who have lost water meters in four sub-districts, except Central Banjarmasin," said Sofyan.
In details, five water meters were stolen in West Banjarmasin, 6 in South Banjarmasin, 7 in East Banjarmasin, and 7 in North Banjarmasin.
Based on CCTV footage of citizens, the characteristics of the perpetrators of theft are always wearing clothes like the PDAM Banjarmasih blue Field Service Clothing (PDL).
But Sofyan stressed that the perpetrators of theft were not employees of the PDAM, but individuals who were misusing the PDAM uniform.
"We believe that it is not our people, there is other party, people who abuse the clothes of PDAMs to get rid of people's suspicion when the perpetrator take action," he said.
Sofyan explained that the stolen water meter caused a material loss of IDR 7.5 million, not including leaking water without control because the watermeter was removed by the thief without closing the pipeline.
"One meter of water has brass in it weighing 0.25 kg. So 4 watermeters will be 1 kg brass which can sell for IDR 100,000 to collectors," he said.
Sofyan added that the theft had been reported to the police and was processed to hunt the perpetrators because the identity of the motorbike's license plate had been recorded by CCTV with the DA6367 white sporty mio motorbike.
