Semarang City Government Handles Massive Drought Impact

Illustration - BPBD officers distribute clean water rocks to residents. BETWEEN/HO-BPBD Cilacap

SEMARANG - Semarang City Government, Central Java, carried out massive handling of the impact of drought in the region. Data collection has been carried out related to areas prone to drought in all urban villages in Semarang City obtained from each neighborhood unit (RT) and the community unit (RW). "The data will continue to be updated and for now those who need water in Jabungan and Rowosari sub-districts," said Semarang City Secretariat Government Asysistem Muhammad Khadik in Semarang, Antara, Tuesday, June 27. In Jabungan Village, he said, there were three RTs recorded, namely RT 02 RW 03, RT 02 RW 05, and RT 04 RW 01, while in Rowosari Village there were two RWs, namely RW 06 and RW 09. As a step in handling it, Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) Tirta Moedal Semarang City has sent clean water assistance through tank trucks in the area. According to him, the clean water assistance is a short-term handling step, considering that the community's daily needs for clean water must be met immediately. In Jabungan Village, six clean water tanks have been sent on June 12, two tanks each on June 19 and June 26, 2023, or routinely every two weeks are "dropped". Meanwhile, in Rowosari Village, two tanks of clean water have been sent on June 27, 2023, and then clean water will be sent according to the needs and needs of residents until conditions are stable. In addition, said Khadik, the Semarang City Government through the Natural Disaster Management Task Force (PBA) reminded the public, RT, RW to be able to report if they need clean water assistance. Through the PBA Task Force which is a combination of cross-sectors such as the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), PDAM, and the Semarang City Housing and Settlement Service, the Semarang City Government also made long-term efforts to handle it. Among them, he said, conducted a survey and field check by the Semarang Disperkim together with PDAM to ensure the feasibility and possibility of the location being able to get access to water from PDAM. "If possible, the PDAM network will be installed. Meanwhile, if the upper water in the area is not suitable for consumption, such as in Jabungan, where the water on it contains lime, it will be followed up with the construction of an artetical well in the communal," he explained. Previously, infiltration pipes had also been installed at several points in Semarang City. Like June 2022, as many as 90 infiltration pipes, consisting of 45 infiltration pipes installed in Rowosari Village and 45 pipes in Jabungan Village, Banyumanik District.

The innovation is a collaboration between the Semarang City Government and Semarang University (USM) in the community service program which was then continued in December 2022 as many as 22 pipes in Sendangmulyo Village, Tembalang District.