Bandung Regent Urges Water Conservation as 27 Sub-Districts Face Drought Emergency

To anticipate the impact of a prolonged dry season expected to last until November 2026, the Bandung Regency Government is taking early action through various mitigation measures, including distributing clean water, installing water tanks in drought-prone areas, and providing water pumps to maintain agricultural productivity. Based on mapping, 27 out of 31 sub-districts in Bandung Regency have been placed on drought emergency alert status. This situation has prompted the regency government to strengthen anticipatory measures to ensure the community’s water needs are met and the agricultural sector is not affected. Bandung Regent Dadang Supriatna explained that preparations for the dry season began two months ago following predictions from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) regarding the potential for a longer and drier dry season. The regent stated that the first instruction was given to the Bandung Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) to strengthen mitigation by mapping all drought-prone points. This mapping serves as the basis for accelerating the distribution of clean water aid if residents begin to experience difficulties obtaining water. In addition, the regional water utility Perumda Air Minum Tirta Raharja has been asked to prepare water tanks in every sub-district, particularly in areas close to drought-prone locations. In the agricultural sector, Dadang explained that the Bandung Regency Government is working to prevent the long dry season from triggering crop failure. To this end, 547 irrigation areas have been proposed to the central government for handling, with 117 points being prioritised. Most of these priority irrigation areas are located around the Citarum River flow, making it possible to pump water to meet the irrigation needs of the rice fields. According to Dadang, the Bandung Regency Government has also prepared a scheme to utilise Citarum River water as an alternative irrigation source to maintain food security during the dry season. This measure is expected to sustain agricultural productivity despite the continued decline in rainfall. Facing these conditions, the regent invited the community to use water wisely and avoid waste. He stated that the involvement of all elements of society is key to reducing the impact of the drought, which is predicted to be longer than in previous years.