MoSA Presents in Gunungkidul: From Water Crisis to Suffice

GUNUNG KIDUL (October 7th, 2023) – The dryness problem becomes the annual cycle for some people in Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta Province. In the dry season, rivers and groundwater dry, and it makes the water become a scarce commodity. The people are forced to ask for some water from their neighbors; they hope for help from others or buy it from the private sector.

However, in the dry season this year, the condition is different in Padukuhan Wates, Karangsari Village, Semin Sub-district. The water flows to the households, and there is also a free water tank that is used for drinks. This is because of the installation of Integrated Water Processing (IPAT) that has installed by the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Social Harmony Program.

One of the residents, Marsinah (53), cannot hide her happiness when witnessing the water source that she wanted. Marsinah is one of the residents who helped to install the water pipe from IPAT to her house. Now, she can enjoy the water for her household needs and for feeding her cows.

“Thanks God. I’m very happy, and I have hoped for a long time. Earlier, someone said they would make a drill well, but it wasn’t. I’m very happy, thank God. Finally, it can be true, and the water comes out. So, in this dry season, we don’t need to look for water in another place,” she said while meeting in front of her house on Monday (2/10).

Previously, Marsinah used a water well from her neighbor whose house was no longer lived in. However, in the dry season, the well water recedes and can’t be pumped. In this condition, Marsinah is forced to go to the river. Even now, the situation is just like paddles, and it is not suitable for consumption. 

“It’s so far for us to do laundry. If it gets more, like 1 plastic bag, then I bring it there. But Thanks God, now there is IPAT, so I don’t need to go there anymore,” she said.

Besides clean water, Marsinah also takes some water to drink. This water is processed by Reverse Osmosis (RO) Technology that can filtrate bacteria, viruses, and other chemical substances so the water can be consumed. Marsinah has had the water from RO routinely since 2 months ago.

The same as Marsinah, another Padukuhan Wates resident, Bambang Setiawan (65), also takes some RO water to be consumed. He said that he felt safe while drinking the water even though he did not see the result from the laboratory.

“I have tried the clean water from RO. I have used it for 2 weeks; I directly drink it without cooking it before. The lime is just a little, and I brave to drink it,” said this man who is a retired marine.

When this article was written, the results of laboratory tests had come out. According to the examination held by the Environmental Quality Management Laboratory, Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (ITS), RO water requires PH for drinking water and is free from harmful chemicals.

Besides it safe for drinking, RO water can save people expenses. At least this was experienced by Sugiman (58), a resident of Padukuhan Kendal, Giring Village, Pakunewon Kaliyan. Earlier, this man who worked as an angkringan seller had to spend IDR 10,000/day for drinking water needs.

“I usually buy refilled water worth IDR 10,000, but after this, I can get it for free. So, I can reduce my expenses,” he said.

The Ministry of Social Affairs installed IPAT in 2 locations, such as in Karangsari Pakunewon Semin and Giring Pakunewon Kaliyan. This aid is in the form of clean water and ready-to-drink water that can be taken directly from both locations. Meanwhile, the clean water flows to the household were done by the self-help community.