Three Villages in Purbalingga Begin to Experience Clean Water Crisis, BPBD Responds
Three villages across two districts in Purbalingga, Central Java, have begun experiencing a clean water crisis. These include Serang and Kutabawa villages in the Karangreja district, and Wanogara Wetan village in the Rembang district.
The Head of Purbalingga BPBD, Revon Haprindiat, stated that the three villages are feeling the impact of drought as the 2026 dry season begins. This condition has caused residents in several areas to struggle to obtain clean water for their daily needs. “The three villages experiencing drought are Serang and Kutabawa in Karangreja district, and Wanogara Wetan in Rembang district,” he explained on Monday (22/6).
According to him, clean water supplies have already been distributed to Serang and Kutabuna villages. Meanwhile, Wanogara Wetan has only just reported the drought, and water dropping has not yet been conducted as the water storage facilities are not yet ready.
Revon noted that residents of Serang and Kutabawa, located on the slopes of Mount Slamet at an altitude of approximately 1,500 metres above sea level, are beginning to face the water crisis.
“The drought occurring is not solely triggered by the dry season. Floods and landslides that hit the area some time ago also caused several access routes to water sources to be blocked, worsening the difficulty for residents in obtaining clean water,” he said.
As a result of this condition, community members must travel distances of approximately one to two kilometres to obtain water for their daily requirements.
As a mitigation measure, the Purbalingga Regency BPBD distributed 20,000 litres of clean water to the affected areas in the Karangreja district on 19 June 2026.
Two tankers, or approximately 10,000 litres of water, were channelled to Kutabawa village, while another two tankers of the same volume were sent to Gunungmalang Hamlet, Serang village. “The assistance was distributed to meet the clean water needs of at least 102 households, or approximately 398 individuals, involving the local village government,” he said.
Revon added that Purbalingga BPBD continues to monitor the development of drought conditions in various regions and stands ready to distribute aid if other areas experience difficulties in accessing clean water.
“We hope this clean water assistance can alleviate the burden on the community and serve as a tangible manifestation of the spirit of mutual cooperation in facing the drought disaster,” he added.