After 25 Years, PDAM Pipes in Jeruken, Gunungkidul Finally Supplied with Water

Residents of Pedukuhan Jeruken, Girisekar, Panggang, Gunungkidul can now smile broadly after the water pipes installed for decades have finally started to receive water. Although it does not flow every day, the residents feel very grateful as they no longer need to buy water.

Dukuh Jeruken, Winarsih, recounted that electricity only reached Jeruken in 1996. Subsequently, road asphalt paving arrived in 1998.

“After the asphalt, there was the installation of large pipes for water supply; if calculated, the age of those pipes is about 25 years. But those pipes were not supplied with water,” she said when contacted by detikJogja on Tuesday (7/4/2026).

As a result, for daily clean water needs, Jeruken residents bought water from tankers with a capacity of 5,000 litres. Even, residents had to dig deep into their pockets when the dry season arrived.

“In the past, there was one tap for one RT, but during the dry season, water came out only once a month and very little. Because of that, most residents bought tanker water and received clean water assistance like from BPBD,” she said.

“One clean water tanker of 5,000 litres costs Rp 150,000, and for a family of 4-5 with the note of the most frugal water usage, it can last 10 days. For me, I can’t; I buy four tankers a month and up to 20-30 tankers a month during the dry season,” Winarsih continued.

In addition, Winarsih revealed that some of her residents had to sell livestock to buy clean water. All that so that the other livestock could still live and be sold.

“Even some residents sold so they could buy clean water; the cows were sold then used to buy clean water and later used for the needs of other livestock. That usually happens during the dry season,” she said.

Winarsih continued that she had once asked PDAM about why the water was not flowing in those pipes. It turned out that the distributed water debit was not yet sufficient.

“From PDAM, they previously said that the water debit for distribution was still difficult; it’s like a glass of water that has to be shared among many people,” she said.

Finally, in Ramadan 2026, PDAM added water points and a new pump. Winarsih still clearly remembers that after 25 years, the sound of water flowing from those large pipes was finally heard.

“First, in the middle of fasting, the water sounded in the pipe right away. Maybe because a pump was added, the water really flows smoothly. In the middle of fasting, I tried to let it flow at 6 a.m. and 1 p.m., and my 7,000-litre tank was already full,” she said.

Subsequently, on Monday (6/4), the Gunungkidul Regency Government conducted the first trial of supplying water to Jeruken. The result was that water flowed strongly to the water outlet points, especially those that already had house connections (SR).

“Even though it’s just a trial, the residents are very happy. As far as I know, the system is rotational or scheduled; in Jeruken, there are 8 points in 6 RTs. Well, because the most are in RT 6 and RT 4, two points (water outlets) were installed,” she said.

Winarsih also mentioned that residents do not mind if the water comes out once a week. Considering that with the clean water supply, residents no longer have to buy clean water per tanker.

“Scheduled by PDAM for the water to come out, and the residents here are very happy. Even once a week is fine, as long as the water comes out and they don’t have to buy water per tanker anymore,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gunungkidul Regent Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih said that the water supply to Jeruken is not yet aligned with the number of SR installations. According to her, all that is due to cost issues.

“Because of that, we are preparing several strategic steps, including plans to subsidise pipe installations for underprivileged residents through equity funds approved by the DPRD,” she said.

“The Head of the Public Works Department (Public Works, Housing, People’s Housing, and Settlement Areas) also stated that in 2027 there will be a assistance package for 40 additional SRs specifically for the Jeruken and Pijenen areas,” Endah added.

Endah revealed that PDAM Tirtahandayani is currently maximising the existing water sources. One of which is located in the Pantai Baron area.

“All groundwater in Gunungkidul converges in Baron, and the debit is 2,000 litres per second, but only 57 litres per second is currently utilised,” she said.