Cimahi BPBD Urges Residents to Conserve Water, Anticipate Crisis During Dry Season
The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Cimahi City is urging the public to start conserving clean water usage to anticipate potential water crises during this year’s dry season. This measure is considered crucial as the dry season is predicted to be longer and hotter due to the influence of the El Niño phenomenon.
Head of the Cimahi City BPBD, Fithriandy Kurniawan, stated that based on forecasts from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), this year’s dry season has the potential to last longer than usual.
“Therefore, the community is expected to be able to anticipate independently. For example, by preparing water supplies, collecting water, then conserving water, and using it more wisely,” Fithriandy said on Saturday (4/7/2026).
Fithriandy explained that water conservation can be achieved through various simple methods, such as reducing water usage for washing vehicles when it is not absolutely necessary.
“Do not wash cars perhaps during the peak of the dry season. If the vehicle is not too dirty, just wipe it down. That is a form of conservation. The implementation methods are left to the community,” he said.
Fithriandy revealed that based on the experience of previous dry seasons, almost all areas of Cimahi City are at risk of experiencing a clean water crisis if the dry season lasts long enough.
“Around 300 out of 312 community units (RW) reported to the sub-district government, which was then forwarded to us, regarding the clean water crisis. So in every sub-district, there are certain areas that are vulnerable to drought or clean water shortages,” Fithriandy explained.
According to him, the clean water crisis in Cimahi is triggered by a drop in the groundwater level, causing residents’ wells to experience a decrease in water discharge during the dry season. This condition is exacerbated by the high utilisation of groundwater in several areas.
“So the drought is caused by the water source in wells decreasing. Because the majority of the water sources there are from wells, coupled with competition for groundwater with industries,” he said.
The Cimahi City BPBD, together with the Housing and Settlement Area Agency (DPKP), has prepared anticipatory measures to address the potential clean water crisis, including strengthening coordination for the provision of clean water aid to affected communities.
“Our personnel are being more prepared, our equipment is being more prepared, and we are intensifying coordination with relevant agencies, such as the procurement of clean water at DPKP in this case. Then other related agencies that are competent or related to the dry season,” Fithriandy said.