Regencies face water shortage as dry season returns

Nana Rukmana and Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cilacap/Majalengka

Severe dry season and illegal logging has been causing more than 100,000 people in the Central Java regencies of Wonogiri and Cilacap suffering clean water shortages, while more than 90,000 hectares of farmland in northern West Java suffering irrigation problems.

Antara reported that Wonogiri regent Begug Poernomosidi said that although the problem was not yet chronic, 86,000 people were starting to face water shortages.

He said the government would soon start supplying water to affected areas.

In Cilacap, where an estimated 17,000 people need clean water, The Jakarta Post witnessed people in Kawungaten subdistrict suffering from water shortages due to the two-month drought.

Among those who face water shortages are 550 households in Grugu village, 500 families in Bringkeng, 450 families in Ujung Manik, 350 families in Kawungaten, 325 families in Kawungatenlor and 302 families in Bojong.

The villagers must source water from other villages as the local government has yet to provide relief.

A large number of water sources such as private and public wells and water ponds have dried up.

The little water available can only be used for bathing or washing.

It can not be consumed or used for cooking due to its high calcium content and its yellow color.

Fadoli, a resident of Ujung Manik village in Cilacap, said he had to dig a well on his farmland to bathe and wash in but had to buy water for consumption and cooking from a private vendor.

A gallon (19-liter water container) cost about Rp 9,000 (US$1), which many people were forced to buy even though they could not afford it without government assistance.

"We must buy at least three gallon of water or Rp 30,000 per week to meet our family needs. We have no choice, otherwise we will not drink," Satimin, another Ujung Manik resident said.

In comparison Satimin said he only needed to buy six kilograms of rice per week at a cost of about Rp 15,000.

Meanwhile, more than 90,000 hectares of rice paddy on the northern coast of West Java is facing irrigation problems due to dropping water levels at the Rentang Dam in Majalengka.

The water level at the dam is currently at 21.56 meters above sea level, down from its normal level of 23.5 meters.

"There are 90,653 hectares of farmland whose irrigation water comes from Rentang Dam. They will be affected by the dropping water levels," dam water gate security head Aeman said.

Of the 90,653 hectares, 66,780 hectares are located in Indramayu regency, 22,939 hectares in Cirebon regency and 934 hectares in Majalengka regency.

"This water has been dropping since late May. Although there were rains several days ago, the water levels did not really increase," he said.

Ucu Sumiarsa, head of the Water Resource Utilization Agency for the Cimanuk-Cisanggarung river, admitted there would be irrigation problems.

He said illegal logging was the main factor contributing to declining water levels at the dam.

Indonesia's dry season usually starts in April and ends in September.