Central Java BPBD Distributes 3 Million Litres of Clean Water as Drought Expands

SEMARANG – The head of the Central Java Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Bergas Catursasi Penanggungan, said the agency has distributed 3 million litres of clean water to areas affected by drought in the province. The aid has been spread across 15 regencies and cities.

“The clean water aid distributed has reached 3 million litres across 15 regencies and cities,” Bergas said in an interview on Saturday (18/7/2026).

He added that the 3 million litres of clean water has been counted since 5 June 2026. According to Bergas, the three areas receiving the most clean water aid are Klaten, Pemalang and Banjarnegara.

“Distribution to Klaten has reached around 1.3 million litres, while Pemalang has received about 600,000 litres and Banjarnegara around 200,000 litres,” he said.

Bergas explained that Klaten has received the most clean water aid because it is one of the areas worst affected by the drought.

“Klaten is located in the highlands, and from the start it was mapped as likely to be affected by the drought because there are no water sources there,” he said.

He said similar factors are behind Pemalang and Banjarnegara being among the areas receiving the largest amounts of clean water aid. Meanwhile, the number of residents receiving clean water aid in Central Java has so far reached 21,949 households, or 61,456 people.

“This figure is still developing and the trend is rising,” Bergas said.

He explained that clean water aid is delivered to drought-affected areas by tanker truck. “Distribution is still done by transport, then it is received in each area through water tanks,” he said.

Bergas revealed that the clean water aid initially prepared by BPBD offices across Central Java to anticipate the drought totalled 123 million litres. However, due to rising fuel prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East, the agency has had to adjust its operational costs.

“So what was originally 123 to 127 million litres, with the increase in fuel prices, we finally settled at around 44 to 46 million litres. That is the total water aid currently available, that we have prepared,” Bergas said.

Previously, BPBD Central Java released data showing that 14 regencies and cities in the province have declared a drought emergency alert status. These areas are Salatiga City, Tegal City, Sukoharjo, Temanggung, Brebes, Sragen, Grobogan, Demak, Purbalingga, Pemalang, Kendal, Semarang Regency, Wonosobo and Banjarnegara.