Residents Near Meninting Dam Hit by Three-Month Drought

Residents around the Meninting Dam, in Bukit Tinggi Village, Gunungsari District, West Lombok, NTB, have been hit by drought for more than three months. Ironically, the affected houses are located less than one kilometre from the dam.

Local residents are calling on the government to immediately utilise the Meninting Dam to meet clean water needs. Notably, the dam was only inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto on 10 July.

“There is a dam, but there is a water drought. They said there is a dam and the water could be enjoyed by the community, but what about now?” said a resident of Bukit Tinggi Village, who requested anonymity, on Tuesday (23/9/2026).

The 31-year-old woman stated that the drought has lasted for approximately three to four months. This condition has made it difficult for residents to obtain clean water for their daily needs.

“It has been like this for three or four months,” she said.

She explained that residents around the Meninting Dam have long been without access to PDAM (regional water utility) services. To meet daily requirements, residents rely on water sources from the forest, which are piped to collection tanks in their respective homes.

“There is no PDAM water; we only rely on water from the forest here,” she added.

However, during the dry season, the water flow from the forest becomes unpredictable. Water sometimes only reaches residents’ tanks after two to three weeks.

“It arrives once every two weeks, and sometimes even three weeks,” she noted.

Another resident, Nuraini, said the drought has forced her to strictly ration government-provided water, which is used for drinking and sanitation. According to her, clean water distribution sometimes only occurs once a week. For drinking and cooking, she is forced to purchase refillable water gallons costing Rp 6,000 every day.

“It is delivered once a week. I have to make do and be frugal. Sometimes I have to buy refillable water gallons,” she said.

As for laundry, Nuraini utilises the water flow found at the base of the Meninting Dam.

“For washing, I use the water flow at the bottom of the dam,” she said.