Drought Handling Of Dry Season Is Not Just With The Help Of Clean Water Distribution

Illustration of drought. (Between/Mohammad Ayudha/pras)

The Center for Natural Disaster Studies (PSBA) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has asked the local government to ask that the handling of potential drought during the dry season is not only realized through "dropping" or distribution of clean water.

PSBA UGM researcher Djati Mardiatno in Yogyakarta said Sunday that the large intensity of clean water distribution shows that drought risk management in an area still needs to be improved.

"The distribution of clean water is only a response. The success of handling drought is actually marked by the reduced 'dropping' carried out," he said, quoted by Antara.

Djati said that at least the supply of clean water to drought-hit areas suggested that local governments and local residents had been able to mitigate and anticipate long before the drought occurred.

He gave an example, in Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), where every year several areas experience drought, drilling well facilities and adequate pipelines should have been built to reach all residential areas.

In addition, local residents are also confirmed to have a culture of harvesting rainwater by preparing water reservoirs independently.

Although the BMKG predicts that this year's dry season will be drier than in previous years, according to him, with this readiness, the local government and its citizens remain calm in facing the possibility of drought.

"Actually, we have faced the 'El-Nino' phenomenon several times. Learning from experience shouldn't be surprising anymore," he said.

Because it has entered the dry season, according to Djati, the rainwater harvest campaign can be said to be too late even though it is still possible.

"This should have been done at the beginning of the rainy season yesterday. Now the anticipation is to save water. Use enough water for daily needs," he said.