Drought Hits Areas Around Jakarta as Dry Season Intensifies

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An extended dry season in Indonesua has triggered severe drought and clean water shortages in several areas surrounding Jakarta, particularly in Bogor and Bekasi regencies, prompting authorities to distribute millions of liters of emergency water.

The West Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) said it has so far distributed 2.2 million liters of clean water to around 27,000 people affected by the drought, with most of the aid sent to Bekasi Regency.

"We have distributed a total of 2.2 million liters of clean water to help residents affected by the drought," West Java BPBD chief Teten Ali Mulku Engkunnya told Tempo on Wednesday, July 29.

Anticipating a stronger dry season linked to the arrival of El Niño, the agency declared a drought emergency alert from July 1 through the end of September.

"As part of our preparedness efforts, we have distributed 4.3 million liters of clean water to communities," Teten said.

The water is delivered free of charge using BPBD and Fire Department tanker trucks. Supplies are sourced from natural springs and regional water utility companies (PDAM).

In Bandung Regency, residents seeking emergency water assistance must submit requests through village authorities, which are then forwarded to district administrations before being processed by the provincial command center. Water is distributed based on the order in which requests are received.

According to BPBD data, drought has affected 207 villages and urban neighborhoods across 95 districts in West Java, impacting around 214,000 people. Bogor Regency has recorded the largest number of affected residents, with more than 108,000 people experiencing water shortages.

"Many communities are struggling to access clean water during this prolonged dry spell," Teten said.

Long-Term Mitigation Measures

Drawing on its 2023 drought impact map, the West Java BPBD is working with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and local governments to expand water pipeline infrastructure in drought-prone areas.

Teten said transporting water by tanker remains costly due to high diesel fuel prices, making permanent infrastructure a more sustainable solution.

The agency is also exploring groundwater drilling to secure new water sources.

"The dry season is expected to peak in August, so we continue to strengthen drought mitigation efforts," he said.

Other measures include encouraging companies to provide clean water through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. If conditions worsen, the provincial government may also request weather modification operations, which are carried out by BNPB and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

However, Teten said no cities or regencies have requested weather modification operations so far.

Forest Fires Increase During Dry Season

The prolonged dry weather has also fueled a rise in forest and land fires across West Java.

BPBD has recorded 58 fire incidents that burned 61.8 hectares of land across 68 villages and urban neighborhoods in 47 districts spanning 14 regencies and cities.

The affected areas include Cirebon, Sumedang, Sukabumi, Majalengka, Bandung City, Bandung Regency, Garut, Purwakarta, Subang, Cianjur, Ciamis, Depok, Karawang, and Indramayu.

"The highest number of fire incidents has occurred in Sumedang and Majalengka," Teten said.

The largest burned area was recorded in Cirebon Regency, where six fires scorched 19.7 hectares. Sumedang lost 13.35 hectares to fires, while six separate incidents in Bandung Regency burned 5.5 hectares.

Most of the fires are believed to have been triggered by smoldering garbage, according to BPBD.

BMKG Warns of Worsening Dry Conditions

Monitoring by the West Java Climatology Station under BMKG showed that between July 11 and July 20, about 30 percent of the province experienced severe dry conditions, with no significant rainfall for between 31 and 60 consecutive days.

The hardest-hit areas include central Bogor Regency, southern Cianjur, Bandung Regency, Garut, Pangandaran, and much of West Java's northern coastal region, including Bekasi, Karawang, Purwakarta, Subang, Indramayu, Majalengka, Sumedang, and Kuningan.

Meanwhile, about 55 percent of West Java has experienced prolonged dry spells lasting between 21 and 30 consecutive days without rainfall, although conditions have not yet reached the most extreme drought category.