Four Regencies in Yogyakarta Affected by Drought, Multiple Clean Water Crisis Points Identified
The Yogyakarta Special Region’s Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD DIY) has revealed that all regencies in DIY have reported clean water crises in their areas. The water crisis is spreading in specific locations.
Head of the Emergency Handling Division of BPBD DIY, R. Tito Asung Kumoro Wicaksono, stated that the areas experiencing water crises are still sporadic or only occurring in specific spots. Initial handling is entirely the authority of the regency/city governments.
“So, when we talk about the water crisis, it is still in spots. The ones who own the territory are the regencies. Our concept is that the province is only supporting; the ones who move operationally first are the regencies,” Tito explained when contacted by detikJogja on Thursday (30/7/2026).
Currently, water crisis reports have been received from Gunungkidul, Bantul, Sleman, and Kulon Progo Regencies. Meanwhile, Yogyakarta City has not reported a water crisis because the community’s needs are still supported by the PDAM network.
“In Gunungkidul it already exists, in Bantul it already exists, in Sleman it already exists, in Kulon Progo it already exists. Only in the city there are indeed no reports regarding that,” said Tito.
Regarding crop failure, Tito said his party has not received any reports.
“Well, so far our friends in agriculture have never reported it. They have never reported to the Provincial BPBD, nor to the Regency BPBD,” he said.
“They should report it. Because the basis for them to access the budget later is from our emergency alert status,” he explained.
Tito explained that the emergency alert status for hydrometeorological drought disasters in DIY is currently valid until 30 September 2026. However, the status period still has the potential to be extended depending on weather developments.
“Before 30 September, we will look at the BMKG release. That will be the basis for whether the status is extended or not,” he said.
BPBD is also continuously coordinating with BNPB and BMKG to address the drought. According to him, weather modification cannot be carried out if there are no rain clouds.
“BNPB and BMKG colleagues have already conveyed during the coordination meeting that the potential for rain clouds that we can use for weather modification operations will only appear in November,” he said.
“We cannot carry out weather modification operations if there are no rain cloud seeds yet. How can we operate weather modification if it is still the dry season? Without rain clouds, it is impossible. So, the requirement is that there must be rain clouds, rain clouds must start to appear,” he stated.
In addition to preparing weather modification operation options, BPBD DIY is also formulating handling measures if the impact of the drought widens. One of these is through the preparation of a Cost Requirement Plan (RKB) to support the affected regencies/cities.
“We will likely conduct monitoring and evaluation in the next 10 days to 2 weeks. The monitoring and evaluation aims to obtain information from the regencies/cities on how far the impact has spread. So that we can also start planning for the reallocation of Unexpected Expenditure (BTT),” he explained.
“Because what for? To provide support. The method is that we will still create what is called an RKB, a Cost Requirement Plan, to support the drought-affected areas in the regencies,” he clarified.
Furthermore, Tito explained that three regencies in DIY have currently established a drought disaster emergency alert status, namely Bantul, Gunungkidul, and Sleman. Meanwhile, Kulon Progo Regency is still in the process of issuing an emergency alert decree (SK).
“So, the regional heads who have issued the hydrometeorological drought or drought disaster emergency alert status are three regencies. Namely, initially Bantul and Gunungkidul, then Sleman. Kulon Progo is in process,” he concluded.