Managing Water for Public in Indonesia : A Case in Semarang

Abstract

Water is very important for life. However, some people perceive water as an economics commodity. Treating water as an economics resource had created many problems among the society, governments as well as private entity as counterpart of the government. In Indonesia, PDAM/Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum (Local government-owned water company) had failed on managing water for public. It was trapped between private or public management scheme and also loss its important role as state apparatus on managing and distributing water for the people. Mismanagement, lack of transparency, and accountability were realities on day to day activities which creates many problems. A case in PDAM Kota Semarang will depict its failure on managing water for the public. Keywords: managing water, constitution, public.