Facing dry season, JATA urges PAM Jaya to enhance clean water availability
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Groundwater Protection Coalition (JATA) has urged PAM Jaya to increase the availability of clean water to address the prolonged dry season anticipated from April to September 2026.
JATA member Ervan Purwanto in Jakarta on Monday highlighted the importance of PAM Jaya’s preparedness, particularly in ensuring clean water availability for Jakarta residents.
He called for PAM Jaya to begin anticipating potential surges in water demand during the dry season. Concrete steps are needed to maintain stable water distribution, especially in areas that have long faced difficulties in accessing clean water.
“PAM Jaya cannot wait for a crisis to occur. There must be mapping of drought-prone areas, strengthening of supplies, and quick solutions for communities that have relied on alternative water sources,” said Ervan.
The Chairman of Pemuda Cinta Tanah Air (PITA) also stated that PAM Jaya needs to promptly map new raw water sources as a mitigation and anticipatory measure, because when supply decreases, water pressure also drops, which can affect household-level water output.
“Vulnerable areas must have alternative solutions, such as increasing the number of water reservoirs and clean water tanks,” Ervan added.
He also highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration within the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. Relevant Regional Device Organisations (OPD) are urged to be more stringent in supervising groundwater use, particularly by high-rise buildings.
According to Ervan, excessive groundwater exploitation by the commercial and office sectors could worsen the water crisis during the dry season, while also accelerating land subsidence, which has long been a classic problem in Jakarta.
“Supervision must be tightened. Do not let residents struggle with water shortages while high-rise buildings freely use groundwater without clear controls,” Ervan stressed.
He hopes that through early mitigation, PAM Jaya’s customers can be well served, as this also affects the company’s image while intensifying its target of 100 percent piped connections by 2029.
“Do not let it happen that once everyone is connected to the piped network, PAM Jaya cannot fulfil its water supply,” Ervan concluded.
Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that the 2026 dry season in Indonesia would arrive earlier, starting in April, with a longer duration and tending towards dryness.
The peak of the dry season is expected in July-September, with 61.4 percent of regions peaking in August.
BMKG also warned to be alert for extreme drought and forest fires due to the transition to a neutral/El Niño phase.