Prolonged Dry Season Causes Water Levels at Delingan Reservoir to Recede

The water discharge of the Delingan Reservoir in Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, continues to shrink as the dry season progresses. The receding water level has exposed parts of the reservoir bed, which local residents are now using for activities. Residents are taking advantage of the receding water to plant peanuts on the exposed land. For the surrounding community, the shrinking of the Delingan Reservoir is nothing new. Almost every dry season, the reservoir bed slowly transforms into temporary farmland. This tradition has been passed down through generations, relying on ‘ilmu titen’, a form of local wisdom for reading seasonal changes and natural conditions. The dry weather conditions and minimal rainfall have caused the reservoir’s water surface to continue to decline. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts the peak of the dry season in Central Java will occur from July to September 2026, meaning the potential for reduced water reserves in several reservoirs still needs to be monitored.