Dry Season Impact Begins, Two Areas in Banyumas Request Clean Water Assistance

The dry season, marked by declining rainfall in Banyumas, Central Java, has begun to impact clean water availability in several areas. The Banyumas Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has recorded two areas that have submitted requests for clean water aid due to difficulties in securing water supplies. Banyumas BPBD Chief Executive Dwi Irawan Sukma stated that the reports received so far originate from Tamansari Village, Karanglewas District, and Sokanegara Urban Village, East Purwokerto District. “We have received two requests for clean water assistance, from Tamansari Village and Sokanegara Urban Village respectively,” Dwi said on Thursday (11/6). Although the requests have been received, BPBD has not yet dispatched aid. Officers are currently conducting field surveys to ascertain the conditions on location and assess the community’s level of need for clean water supply. According to Dwi, the survey is crucial as a basis for determining the amount of aid to be provided, including the required tanker fleet and the volume of water to be distributed to the affected areas. “For Tamansari and Sokanegara, we are still in the survey phase. We are still assessing the need for water tankers and estimating the required distribution volume,” he stated. He added that if the survey results indicate the community needs immediate intervention, clean water aid will be distributed straight away. Dwi explained that the decline in rainfall intensity over recent weeks is one of the early signs of the dry season’s arrival in Banyumas. This condition is beginning to be felt, particularly in the southern regions, which have historically been more vulnerable to drought during the dry season. Meanwhile, some areas in northern Banyumas are still occasionally experiencing light rainfall, making water sources relatively more secure compared to the south. Anticipating the potential spread of drought impacts, Banyumas BPBD is enhancing its preparedness and undertaking various anticipatory measures. These include monitoring weather conditions and water source availability in several areas potentially affected. “Rainfall has started to decrease and signs of the dry season are beginning to show. Therefore, we are making various preparations to anticipate the possibility of more areas experiencing drought,” he said. In addition to preparing clean water distribution, BPBD is also mapping drought-prone areas as a mitigation measure. This effort aims to ensure the community’s water needs can still be met if the dry season lasts longer and the number of affected areas continues to grow.