Extreme Drought: Depok Water Utility Distributes 250,000 Litres of Clean Water to Thousands Across 5 Subdistricts
The Municipal Water Company (PDAM) of Depok City, West Java, has moved swiftly to distribute dozens of tanker trucks of clean water to help thousands of households affected by drought and falling water flows caused by the extreme dry season of 2026.
According to data from PDAM Depok City, the areas affected by the 2026 extreme drought include Beji, Pancoran Mas, Cinere and Bojongsari districts, as well as parts of Cimanggis district.
As of early August 2026, at least 2,416 families (KK) across the five districts had been affected by the clean water crisis, prompting PDAM, working through the Depok City Fire and Rescue Service (DPKP) and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) of Depok City, to continue actively dispatching dozens of water tankers carrying hundreds of thousands of litres of water to meet residents’ needs.
M. Olik Abdul Holik, President Director of PDAM Tirta Asasta Depok City, said the utility had delivered 250,000 litres of clean water to 2,416 families across the five districts hit by the water crisis.
The clean water, sourced from PDAM Tirta Asasta, is being distributed to meet the needs of communities in the five districts that have struggled to obtain clean water during the dry season. “We will continue to make every effort to ensure that people affected by the drought retain access to clean water,” Olik said.
To date, there have been dozens of clean water distribution points established based on requests from residents and village administrations. Olik explained that the success of the distribution effort owed much to coordination between Depok City’s DPKP and PMI, village governments and Community-Based Disaster Preparedness (SIBAT) volunteers.
“SIBAT volunteers in the villages are very active in monitoring the community’s water needs. When supplies begin to run low, they contact us immediately so that clean water can be distributed quickly and accurately,” he said.
PDAM Depok City, Olik said, will remain on maximum alert to distribute clean water assistance for the duration of the Drought Emergency Alert Status. “PDAM Depok City urges the public to use water sparingly. Residents who are beginning to experience difficulty obtaining clean water are asked to report promptly to their village administration or to DPKP and PMI so that assessments and aid distribution can be carried out quickly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hariadi, Secretary of PDAM Tirta Asasta Depok City, said the five districts were prioritised because they face a clean water crisis nearly every year during the dry season.
“These conditions are influenced by low rainfall, limited groundwater reserves, soil characteristics that make it difficult to retain water, uneven clean water piping networks, and geographical conditions that cause groundwater availability to decline during the dry season,” he said.
Roy, a resident of Kemiri Muka sub-village in Beji district, Depok City, said the clean water assistance from PDAM Tirta Asasta had been a great help to the community, as wells had begun to run dry because of the prolonged dry season.
“This year’s dry season has been quite long, so we are struggling to get water. Usually we draw water from the well after work, but now the well has dried up. We really need this clean water assistance,” he said.
Another resident, Tio, said the clean water aid was being used not only for household needs but also for livestock. “This water is a great help, not only for bathing, washing and daily needs, but also for watering our cattle, which we use to help with work in the fields,” he said.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has said that Indonesia has entered a strong El Niño phase, with the potential to trigger drought, forest and land fires, and an increase in hotspots across various regions at the start of August 2026.
To guarantee the availability of clean water, the government will accelerate water distribution through coordination between the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the regional water utility (Perumda Air Minum), the Water Resources Management Centre (BBWS) and PMI.