Drought in Cirarab Village, Tangerang, Leaves Residents in Clean Water Crisis

Residents of Cirarab Village, Legok District, Tangerang Regency, Banten, have struggled to obtain clean water over the past month.

A prolonged drought has caused local wells to run dry, while the flow of the Cimanceri River, which has long been utilised for daily needs, is no longer fit for use due to suspected waste pollution.

Several residents’ wells are reported to no longer produce water as a result of the drought hitting the area. This situation has forced residents to rely on clean water assistance delivered by water tankers from the Legok Youth Volunteers.

The clean water from these tankers is then distributed to residents’ homes through prepared collection points.

Residents claim they have faced difficulties obtaining clean water for approximately one month. Previously, they used water from the Cimanceri River for bathing and washing, but the river water is now murky, odorous, and suspected to be contaminated by waste, making it unusable.

To meet daily needs, some residents have been forced to purchase bottled water. However, the high cost has caused significant hardship, as it is disproportionate to their current economic situation.

One resident, Nining, stated that clean water assistance is desperately needed because the community no longer has a viable water source. “It has been a month; we used to use the river, but now the water level is low and it smells slightly. For drinking, we have to buy bottled water,” Nining said on Wednesday (8/7).

Similarly, another resident, Yadi, admitted that the water assistance from volunteers has been very helpful amidst the water crisis that has lasted for the past month. “We use the river or sometimes go to houses that have been demolished where water sources still exist; for drinking, we buy bottled water. There has been no assistance from the government yet, only from the volunteers, so I am very pleased,” Yuppie expressed.

Residents hope that the local government will immediately provide regular clean water assistance and take steps to address the condition of the Cimanceri River so that it can be utilised by the community once again.