Social Affairs Minister Risma Builds Clean Water Treatment Plant in Pandeglang

BANTEN (June 14, 2024) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini provided assistance for groundwater drilling and installation of clean water treatment plants in Lebak Regency and Pandeglang Regency, Banten Province. This assistance was given to overcome the difficulty of clean water that is often faced by people in these two districts.

“We have sent a team and conducted a survey. The Ministry of Social Affairs has found a water source with a large capacity. Hopefully, the drilling will be completed soon,” said Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini during a dialog with residents of Cigadung Village, Karang Tanjung Subdistrict, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, on Friday (14/6) afternoon. 

Based on the Banten Province National Disaster Risk Assessment 2022-2026, Lebak Regency and Pandeglang Regency are the two regencies with the highest potential economic losses due to drought. Around 384,851 poor people are potentially affected by drought. Seeing this huge risk and potential loss, Risma immediately deployed a team to build a clean water installation. This is an effort by Risma to prevent poverty if the poor are affected by drought.

Residents in the two districts visited by Risma generally use water from springs in the forest and wells to meet their daily water needs. However, springs and wells become dry during the dry season from June to October. To meet the need for clean water, residents are forced to buy clean water, because PDAM water flow has not yet entered their area. “During the dry season, we have to buy water for Rp80,000 per tank truck with a capacity of 2,500 liters of water,” said Hidayat (26), a youth leader in Cigadung Village, Karang Tanjung Subdistrict, Pandeglang Regency. “The water is only enough for 50 people,” Hidayat added.

In response to this, the Ministry of Social Affairs is searching for clean water sources through drilling using geoelectric technology. The water from the drilling will be stored in two water reservoirs with a capacity of 10,000 liters enough to meet the water needs of 115 families. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides 2,200 VA PLN electricity as a source of electricity.

The residents are very grateful for the efforts made by the Ministry of Social Affairs in providing clean water. “If the drilling is completed, we will no longer have difficulty getting clean water,” said Abdul Rohib, Chairman of RW 06 Cigadung Village, Pandeglang Regency, hopefully.