Clean water supply strengthened for drought-hit Central Java residents
PU Ramps Up Clean Water Support for Drought-Hit Central Java Residents
Source: ANTARA News · August 26, 2026 at 10:30 PM · AI-assisted report
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CENTRAL JAVA, JAKARTA, MALAYSIA, JATENG, 27 AUGUST 2026 —
PU Ramps Up Clean Water Support for Drought-Hit Central Java Residents
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KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 26): Malaysia’s Ministry of Public Works (PU) is strengthening support to meet clean water needs for communities affected by drought in Central Java (Jateng), deploying 16 water tanker trucks and 105 public hydrants.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo emphasised the critical role of water in sustainable development, stating that drought mitigation must be swift, measured, and integrated to ensure water access and agricultural productivity remain uninterrupted.
“In an increasingly uncertain world, water is the foundation of sustainable development. Therefore, drought response must be rapid, measured, and coordinated to ensure public water needs are met and agricultural productivity is preserved,” Dody said in a statement from Jakarta on Thursday.
The equipment, mobilised through the Central Java Regional Building, Infrastructure, and Area Management Office (BPBPK), is being deployed in stages in coordination with local disaster management agencies (BPBD) based on field conditions.
Of the available resources, nine water tankers and 12 public hydrants have already been deployed across several districts in Central Java. Each tanker has a capacity of 4,000 litres, while each hydrant holds 2,000 litres.
The tanker support has been channelled to districts including Jepara, Sragen, Tegal, Cilacap, Blora, Banjarnegara, and Pekalongan. Tegal and Banjarnegara each received two tankers.
Meanwhile, 12 public hydrants have been installed in Pemalang (two units), Banjarnegara (eight units), and Cilacap (two units), providing clean water access in drought-affected areas.
In Banjarnegara, water distribution has reached 11 locations, including Dusun Kempyang, Dusun Karanggedang, Desa Jalatunda, and Desa Wiramastra. According to response reports, these efforts have benefited 669 households or 4,638 individuals, totalling 108,000 litres of water distributed.
The support comes as drought conditions worsen across Central Java. BPBPK data from August indicates drought has spread to at least 24 regencies/cities, with 32 additional areas at risk. Approximately 184,000 residents are facing difficulties accessing clean water.
The PU Ministry continues to coordinate with local governments to ensure water supply resources are rapidly mobilised to affected areas while maintaining readiness of remaining facilities throughout the drought period.
Details on potential spillover effects on Malaysia’s water or agricultural sectors are not yet available.
Related: Dody Hanggodo