PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com – Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono has responded to reports of vendors charging high prices for freshwater. This is happening as dry weather and saltwater intrusion continue to disrupt the city’s primary raw-water supply.

Speaking to reporters in a video reviewed by The Kabar News on Sunday, September 13, Edi said private sellers generally set their prices through market mechanisms.

However, he advised residents against purchasing water they considered unreasonably expensive.

“The market determines the price. If I sell water for Rp100,000 per gallon and someone is willing to buy it, then they may do so. But people do not need to buy it if it is too expensive,” Edi said on September 9.

His comments concerned privately sold water, not the regular tariff that the city-owned water utility, PDAM Tirta Khatulistiwa, charges.

The mayor did not provide data showing how many vendors were charging Rp100,000. He also did not say whether the price had become common across Pontianak.

Edi also described an unusual purchase involving water transported from Anjungan, Mempawah Regency.

He said a buyer reportedly paid Rp3 million for one tanker load to meet the needs of arowana fish. This was not for household consumption.

“I even heard that someone bought one tanker of water for Rp3 million just for arowana fish,” he said.

“I asked where the freshwater came from, and they said it was taken from Anjungan.”

For household consumption, Edi said the city administration and PDAM Tirta Khatulistiwa continued to maintain freshwater supplies.

Residents could use official distribution services instead of relying entirely on high-priced private vendors.

Pontianak has faced water-quality problems during the prolonged dry period. This is because seawater has moved into the Kapuas River, the city utility’s principal raw-water source.

Monitoring data cited by Indonesia’s Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) showed the river’s salinity reaching 5,000 milligrams per liter during the disruption.

The city has responded by drawing freshwater from the Penepat reservoir in Kubu Raya Regency. Edi previously said the salt content of water supplied from Penepat had fallen below 50 milligrams per liter.

The Pontianak city administration said residents may use the treated supply for consumption but should boil it first.

Official collection points have also operated at the Perumnas III booster facility and the utility’s Imam Bonjol site.

Residents who need tanker deliveries can report their requirements through their urban village and district offices.

“We are still hoping for rain so production can return to normal,” Edi said.

Until the raw-water supply stabilizes, residents should verify sellers’ prices and prioritize official distribution points. They should also follow the city’s safety guidance before using distributed water for drinking.