Drought hits more than 200 villages in Banyumas
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto
Tens of thousands of people in over 200 villages in Banyumas regency, Central Java, are experiencing severe clean water shortages as most artesian wells have dried up due to the prolonged drought.
Residents in the villages told The Jakarta Post Monday that they often had to forego bathing just to save clean water for cooking and drinking.
"I haven't taken a bath for three days. I feel so itchy and uncomfortable. But I have to do it because our water supply is only enough for cooking and drinking," said Sudarso, 45, a native of Susukan village, Banjarnegara district.
He said that residents could get clean water from their artesian wells only early in the morning.
"But the amount is very insignificant ... three small buckets at the maximum. If we try to take more than that, we will only get mud," he said.
Another villager, Supardi, 34, said many residents in the area had to fetch water from the river for bathing.
"But that is only in the morning. The water becomes murky in the evening as too many people go to the same river," he said.
The water shortage has also forced villagers in Baturaden district to use river water for bathing, washing clothes, and even drinking.
Although some villagers have complained about skin rashes, no outbreak of serious disease has been reported so far. Health officials say there has been no significant increase in the number of patients admitted to local public health centers.
"Most patients coming here have come down with the flu or a fever. I guess it's because its so cold at night," said a nurse at the Kembaran Health Center, Banyumas.
Suyatno of the Banyumas administration said Monday that this year's dry season had affected more than 50,000 hectares of paddy fields.
"More than 50,000 hectares of paddy fields are dry and cannot be cultivated because of the water shortage," he said.
He also said that local administration had tried to supply clean water to the affected villages but the amount was very insignificant.
"We've supplied around 50 containers of clean water to those villages but the amount is far from being adequate," he said.