Gunungkidul hard hit by chronic water shortages<\/p>\n
Text and photos by Tarko Sudiarno<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): It's dusk in Pegunungan Seribu (Thousand
\nHills) in Gunungkidul regency. From the top of Planjan Hill,
\nthere is a beautiful lake of the same name. The scenery of blue
\nwater and leafless trees in the vicinity is simply breathtaking.<\/p>\n
But a closer look at the lake reveals something different. The
\nlake has lost 70 percent of its water and is extremely dirty and
\nstinky. It turns out the blue color is from widespread algae.<\/p>\n
The five-hectare lake is the only source of water in the
\ncurrent dry season for the thousands of residents of Saptosari
\nsubdistrict.<\/p>\n
Scores of people flock to the lake at dusk. Some bathe, while
\nothers wash clothing or household appliances. Many bathe their
\ncattle, all in the same heavily polluted water.<\/p>\n
It's not surprising that the lake with a water level that
\nprogressively drops is getting dirtier every day with the
\nuninhibited use of detergent and uncontrolled release of dung by
\nthe bathing cattle.<\/p>\n
A similar view is common in other places in Gunungkidul every
\ndry season. Local officials say that the seven subdistricts of
\nSaptosari, Panggang, Rongkop, Paliyan, Tepus, Semanu and Ponjong
\nare seriously affected by drought. Only a few of the 262 lakes in
\nthe area have some water left and can be used for all purposes.<\/p>\n
A water crisis happens almost every dry season to some varying
\ndegree. Some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and local
\ngovernments have built pipelines to distribute groundwater in
\nbadly affected areas.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the system does not work as well as expected.
\nIn some areas, the water is inadequate and in other places, the
\nwater leaks. Many have complained that the pipelines do not
\nprovide enough water for household purposes.<\/p>\n
To overcome the problem, the government has rotated the water
\ndistribution. Planjan and neighboring Tritis, for example,
\nreceive water from the pipeline system once a week. Residents say
\nthat they do not receive enough. Each family receives about five
\ncubic meters to be used for a week.<\/p>\n
Better-off residents are compelled to buy water from hawkers
\nor wait for water donated by the local government.<\/p>\n
Hawkers sell 5,000 liters of water for between Rp 50,000 and
\nRp 75,000. Before the financial crisis, residents could also
\nexpect aid from philanthropists.<\/p>\n
The dry spell also affects cattle. Feed has to be imported
\nfrom outside Gunungkidul. Corncobs cost Rp 1,000 and the farmer
\nhas to spend some Rp 5,000 for a cow a day. This explains why
\nmany people have to sell some of their goats or cows to buy feed.<\/p>\n
\"A cow eats a cow or a cow eats goats,\" is a popular joke in
\nGunungkidul.<\/p>\n
A food shortage for humans is also a problem, although it is
\nnot that serious. Affected residents have to lower their meal
\nstandards. Those who cannot afford rice turn to corn or cassava.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gunungkidul-hard-hit-by-chronic-water-shortages-1447893297",
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