Anticipating a Long Dry Season, Bandung Regency Maps Water Crisis Areas

The Bandung Regency Government (Pemkab Bandung) is strengthening mitigation measures to face the threat of a prolonged dry season and the El Niño phenomenon. The main focus is directed at securing the supply of clean water for the community and the availability of water for the agricultural sector.

Bandung Bupati, Dadang Supriatna, has instructively asked the regional water company Perumda Air Minum Tirta Raharja to immediately map areas that have a high risk of experiencing clean water shortages. This step is taken as an early detection effort so that the water crisis does not spread when the peak of the dry season arrives.

“We must be ready from now. Areas that have the potential to be affected must be mapped and solutions found so that the community’s clean water needs remain fulfilled,” stressed Dadang Supriatna on Tuesday (23/6).

Based on the provisional mapping results, a number of service areas for the Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) are predicted to be affected if the duration of the dry season lasts longer than normal estimates. This condition has the potential to affect the distribution of clean water to thousands of customers under the auspices of Perumda Tirta Raharja.

In addition to focusing on drinking water, the Bupati also emphasised the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration. He instructed a number of relevant agencies to strengthen coordination. This coordination aims to maintain the availability of irrigation water for residents’ agricultural land. Dadang hopes that with integrated anticipation measures from an early stage, the negative impact of El Niño on food security and the basic needs of the community in Bandung Regency can be significantly minimised.