Aceh – Indonesia, East Aceh – Services provided by PDAM Tirta Peusada East Aceh have once again come under public scrutiny. East Aceh legal practitioner Iskandar Fuadi, S.H., has urged the regional water utility to not only demand that customers fulfill their payment obligations, but to also ensure the public’s right to clean water services is truly met.
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‎Iskandar believes that clean water supply issues cannot be viewed merely as administrative matters or billing concerns. Water is a basic necessity for the public; therefore, any service disruption must be followed by transparent explanations, measurable solutions, and certainty regarding when services will return to normal.
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‎“Don’t just collect obligations from customers—their rights must also be fulfilled. The public is not merely an object for billing. They are customers who are entitled to decent service and certainty,” Iskandar said at Loyalty Coffee Shop, Idi Rayeuk, East Aceh, on Monday (10/05/2026).
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‎Iskandar mentioned that while post-disaster infrastructure damage is understandable, this condition should not relieve PDAM and the local government of their responsibility to conduct evaluations, provide transparent information, and accelerate the restoration of water distribution.
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‎“Disasters can indeed damage basic infrastructure. However, a disaster should not be used as a shield to avoid evaluation. People aren’t asking for promises; they need running water and certainty on when services will return to normal,” Iskandar said.
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‎Iskandar also highlighted public reports regarding service conditions in Madat District and parts of Pante Bidari.
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‎He noted that based on information he received, residents in several of these areas are reportedly still struggling to access clean water since the floods occurred.
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‎If these reports are accurate, Iskandar stated, the issue can no longer be met simply with appeals for the public to remain patient. There must be concrete, transparent, and measurable steps from both PDAM and the East Aceh Regency Government.
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‎Therefore, he urged the East Aceh Regency Government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of PDAM Tirta Peusada’s services, particularly in areas affected by distribution disruptions. The local government is also expected to ensure the existence of a clear issue map, recovery targets, and a genuinely responsive complaint mechanism.
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‎“The local government and PDAM must step up with solutions, not just explanations. If the public is required to pay disciplinedly, then the service provider must also be disciplined in meeting its obligations,” Iskandar said.
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‎He warned that public trust in regional state-owned enterprises is built not through the volume of bills issued, but through the quality of service felt directly by the community.
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‎“Customers shouldn’t only be remembered when it’s time to pay the bill, but forgotten when they need service. Customers have obligations, but they also have rights,” he concluded.
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‎Iskandar hopes this issue will serve as momentum for PDAM Tirta Peusada and the East Aceh Regency Government to immediately reform service governance in a serious, transparent, and sustainable manner.
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‎”Because for the public, the matter is simple—they don’t need long excuses. They need running clean water and service certainty,” Iskandar concluded.(rao)