Residents around the Meninting Dam, in Bukit Tinggi Village,\nGunungsari District, West Lombok, NTB, have been hit by drought for more\nthan three months. Ironically, the affected houses are located less than\none kilometre from the dam.<\/p>\n
Local residents are calling on the government to immediately utilise\nthe Meninting Dam to meet clean water needs. Notably, the dam was only\ninaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto on 10 July.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a dam, but there is a water drought. They said there is a\ndam and the water could be enjoyed by the community, but what about\nnow?\u201d said a resident of Bukit Tinggi Village, who requested anonymity,\non Tuesday (23\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old woman stated that the drought has lasted for\napproximately three to four months. This condition has made it difficult\nfor residents to obtain clean water for their daily needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been like this for three or four months,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She explained that residents around the Meninting Dam have long been\nwithout access to PDAM (regional water utility) services. To meet daily\nrequirements, residents rely on water sources from the forest, which are\npiped to collection tanks in their respective homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no PDAM water; we only rely on water from the forest here,\u201d\nshe added.<\/p>\n
However, during the dry season, the water flow from the forest\nbecomes unpredictable. Water sometimes only reaches residents\u2019 tanks\nafter two to three weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt arrives once every two weeks, and sometimes even three weeks,\u201d\nshe noted.<\/p>\n
Another resident, Nuraini, said the drought has forced her to\nstrictly ration government-provided water, which is used for drinking\nand sanitation. According to her, clean water distribution sometimes\nonly occurs once a week. For drinking and cooking, she is forced to\npurchase refillable water gallons costing Rp 6,000 every day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is delivered once a week. I have to make do and be frugal.\nSometimes I have to buy refillable water gallons,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
As for laundry, Nuraini utilises the water flow found at the base of\nthe Meninting Dam.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor washing, I use the water flow at the bottom of the dam,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/residents-near-meninting-dam-hit-by-three-month-drought-1790063565", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }