Regencies face water shortage as dry season returns

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.