Cilacap Clean Water Crisis Spreads to 19 Villages, 673,000 Litres Distributed

The clean water crisis caused by the dry season in Cilacap Regency, Central Java, is reported to be continuing to spread. As of the end of July 2026, the Cilacap Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded that 19 villages across 11 districts have been affected by extreme drought.

Head of the Cilacap BPBD, Taryo, said the drought has affected at least 18,255 people across 5,459 households. As an emergency response measure, the local government has intensified the distribution of clean water with the involvement of various sectors.

“As of 27 July 2026, we have distributed a total of 673,000 litres of clean water, equivalent to 130 tankers, to affected communities,” said Taryo on Tuesday (28/7/2026).

The clean water distribution is the result of collaboration between the local government budget and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. Of the 673,000 litres distributed, the assistance came from two main sources:

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in Cilacap was the largest contributor from the non-governmental sector, distributing 245,000 litres (48 tankers). In addition, support came from Pertamina Patra Niaga through its Siaga Peduli programme, totalling 48,000 litres (6 tankers), and from the Citanduy River Basin Centre (BBWS) with 10,000 litres (2 tankers).

On Monday (27/7), BPBD again targeted six crucial points across five districts. Assistance was provided not only to residential areas but also to educational facilities that had begun to struggle with access to clean water.

Taryo stressed that distribution would continue dynamically, following developments in field conditions. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and maintain the spirit of mutual cooperation, given that the risk of drought is expected to persist for some time to come.