Six-Month Drought Forces Gunungkidul Residents to Spend Rp 5.4 Million on Water, Mosque Sets Up Water Bank

GUNUNGKIDUL, KOMPAS.com - The dry season has increased the demand for clean water among residents of Dusun Sawah, Kalurahan Krambil Sawit, Kapanewon Saptosari, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta.

When water supplies are limited, residents have to buy water to meet daily needs. Within three months, one family can purchase about 18 water tanks.

At a price of around Rp 150,000 per tank, the expenditure on water amounts to approximately Rp 2.7 million in three months.

If the dry season lasts six months with the same consumption pattern, a family might spend around Rp 5.4 million according to calculations.

"Usually within three months the community buys about 18 water tanks. If the dry season continues for six months, you can calculate how much water is needed and the costs incurred," said Dusun Sawah resident Kyai Seno, as quoted from Tribun Jogja on Friday (18/9/2026).

Water Access Remains a Challenge

The high water demand relates to the residential area situated in the hills.

Clean water pipeline networks have yet to reach the settlements optimally. The two available water pumps also cannot lift water to the higher areas.

Under these conditions, the community relies on rainwater and purchases clean water to fulfill daily needs.

This situation has driven residents to prepare water reserves for use when other sources are limited.

One effort is through the development of water storage at the Al-Fattah Mosque in Dusun Sawah.

Al-Fattah Mosque Stores 30,000 Liters of Water

The mosque, operating under the auspices of PC LDII Saptosari, now has two water reservoirs.

Each has a capacity of approximately 15,000 liters, totaling around 30,000 liters.

This capacity is equivalent to six water tanks of 5,000 liters each.

The water reserve is prepared to face situations when community water supplies are limited during the dry season.

This concept is developed as part of the idea to make the mosque a community-based "water bank."