The impact of a prolonged dry season has begun to trigger a serious clean water crisis in the hilly area of Cilegon City, Banten. Residents of Gunung Batur Hamlet, Mekarsari Village, are now forced to scramble and fight extra hard to obtain water supplies to meet their daily domestic needs.
To cope with the drought, local residents rely entirely on a natural water source in the Sumur Bendung area, located in the middle of the forest. Every day, residents must walk along a one-kilometer hilly trail to bring home several gallons of clean water.
One resident, Herlina (30), stated that the clean water crisis has been going on for the past month due to the complete lack of rainfall. According to her, the natural spring flowing through the mountain rocks has become the sole lifesaver for residents for both consumption and sanitation needs.
To avoid conflict and ensure fair water distribution, residents took the initiative to implement a self-managed 24-hour queuing shift system. Daily supplies are restricted to just a few households per day, with collection times divided between day and night to preserve the dwindling water flow.
The geographical condition of Gunung Batur Hamlet, dominated by hard rock structures, makes drilling independent wells impossible. Meanwhile, clean water assistance from the local government is considered very minimal and unable to sustainably meet the residents' daily needs, making the preservation of this natural spring their last line of defense.
