Bangka Regency Prepares Water Tankers for Extended Dry Season
The Bangka Regency Government, in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province, is deploying three water tanker trucks through its regional drinking water company to supply clean water to the public. The move is a mitigation measure in anticipation of a longer dry season this year.
The Head of Engineering at Perumda Air Minum Tirta Bangka, S. Kristryandi, stated that the fleet is currently on standby to distribute water aid whenever needed. “We have prepared three tanker trucks to be used at any time to supply clean water to the community,” Kristryandi said in Sungailiat on Tuesday (21/7/2026). Each tanker truck has a transport capacity of four tonnes of water. In addition to residential areas, the water supply is prioritised for public facilities to ensure services are not disrupted during the dry season. “Besides being prepared to supply the community’s clean water needs, the tanker trucks will also supply public facilities such as hospitals, schools, and other public facilities,” he explained.
Despite the increasing threat of drought, Kristryandi assured that the water supply for the company’s 15,000 customers across various sub-districts remains safe. This is supported by the availability of sufficient raw water sources for distribution through the regular pipeline network. “The water needs for customers are still sufficient because we have several raw water source points that are channelled to customers,” he added.
In addition to focusing on public consumption, Perumda Tirta Bangka has also prepared a special tanker truck to support the fire brigade. This collaborative measure aims to accelerate the handling of forest and land fires that frequently occur during the dry season. “If the fire brigade runs short of water while extinguishing a fire, we are ready to help supply water,” Kristryandi stressed. Meanwhile, the Head of the Fire Prevention Section of the Bangka Regency Civil Service Police Unit, Zalfika Ammya, revealed that the intensity of land fires in the region is increasing. The agency is paying serious attention as reports from the public regarding forest and land fires are received almost daily.