BPBD Ponorogo Begins Distributing Clean Water to Drought-Affected Areas

The Ponorogo Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in East Java has begun distributing clean water aid to two locations affected by drought as water needs increase during the peak of the dry season. Head of BPBD Ponorogo, Masun, stated on Monday that the two locations that have submitted requests for clean water assistance are SMAN 1 Jenangan state high school and Dukuh Bungur in Munggu Village, Bungkal District. ‘So far, there have been two requests for clean water distribution, namely from SMAN 1 Jenangan and Dukuh Bungur, Munggu Village, Bungkal District,’ he said in Ponorogo. According to Masun, the BPBD first conducts a field assessment to ascertain the water needs in the affected locations before distributing aid. He explained that SMAN 1 Jenangan experiences water supply shortages almost every year during the dry season. The school’s water needs are typically met through the regional drinking water company (Perumda Air Minum) network and the Community-Based Drinking Water and Sanitation Provision programme (Pamsimas), but the water flow is insufficient when school activities increase. ‘Therefore, the school’s clean water needs must be assisted through water distribution from BPBD,’ he said. Meanwhile, the drought in Dukuh Bungur has affected around 153 residents. Before distribution is carried out, officers inspect the number of affected residents, the condition of storage tanks, and the suitability of jerry cans. Masun noted that the characteristics of the water source in Dukuh Bungur do not allow for the construction of deep wells, unlike in Duri Village and Wates Village, which still have sufficient water reserves. The BPBD will continue to monitor the impact of the dry season across the Ponorogo region. Clean water distribution will be expanded if the number of areas affected by drought increases. He urged residents experiencing difficulties in obtaining clean water to immediately report to the village government to be forwarded to the BPBD so that handling can be carried out more swiftly.