BNPB Warns of the Threat of a Clean Water Crisis Due to El Nino

ILLUSTRATION/ANTARA FOTO/Adeng Bustomi/agr

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has asked all local governments to increase their preparedness to face the threat of a clean water crisis due to drought exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon which is predicted to last for 11 months.

BNPB Head Suharyanto said the spike in temperature and extreme rainfall due to climate anomalies would have a wide impact on the availability of domestic water for the community in various regions.

"Based on the BMKG's prediction, Indonesia has the potential to experience the El Nino phenomenon which is estimated to last quite a long time, from July 2026 to May 2027," said Suharyanto as reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 3.

In response to this potential threat, BNPB urges all district and city governments to move quickly to map drought-prone areas.

The Magelang Regency Government, in this case, also pays attention, especially mapping in the Menoreh Hills area which is prone to drought.

According to him, the mapping results will become the basis for the central government to formulate a comprehensive drought impact mitigation strategy at the national level.

"The results of the mapping will be the basis for determining mitigation steps, including in the Menoreh Magelang area, both through the construction of an extended pipeline network and the provision of deep well bore wells," said the Head of BNPB.

To support the smooth mitigation throughout the archipelago, Suharyanto emphasized that the central government was committed to providing budget stimulus support through emergency financing schemes that were allocated specifically in the BNPB post.

"In 2026, it is no longer feasible if the community still has to carry water containers and walk far for clean water. We ask the regions to immediately submit proposals. For urgent emergency handling, the Ready-to-Use Fund at BNPB can be disbursed quickly, even within a week," he said.