BANGKA -- A prolonged dry season has begun to affect access to clean water for residents in Sungailiat District, Bangka Regency. In response, PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk has collaborated with the Sungailiat District Administration, PDAM Tirta Bangka, and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to distribute clean water to affected communities.
The initial phase of the distribution prioritizes residents of Sinar Baru, one of the areas affected by the drought. The assistance is being delivered not only to households but also to public facilities, including schools, mosques, and religious learning centers, starting Friday (September 11, 2026).
Sungailiat District Head Lingga Pranata said the cross-sector collaboration was a joint effort to respond to the community’s needs amid the prolonged dry season.
“Today, Sungailiat District is collaborating with PT TIMAH, Kadin, and PDAM to distribute clean water to the community,” Lingga said.
According to him, preliminary data identified around six urban villages as priority areas, particularly those that have not yet been reached by PDAM Tirta Bangka’s water supply network.
“Based on the data we have received, we are prioritizing areas that are not yet served by PDAM Tirta Bangka. There are around six urban villages included in the distribution plan, and we plan to continue supplying clean water from today until next week,” he explained.
In the initial phase, more than seven tons of clean water were distributed. The distribution will continue to be evaluated based on conditions on the ground. Should the dry season persist and demand for clean water increase, the distribution coverage will be expanded to other areas in need.
“Today, we are focusing on Sinar Baru, and thankfully many residents have already collected the water. We have also distributed it to public facilities such as schools and mosques,” he said.
The clean water distribution initiative reflects a collaborative effort to help communities cope with the impact of the dry season. The involvement of PT TIMAH alongside the district administration, PDAM, and Kadin strengthens the response to clean water shortages in affected areas.
Sinar Baru neighborhood head Sunarto expressed his appreciation for the clean water assistance provided to local residents. He said the prolonged dry season had significantly reduced water levels in a number of community wells.
“This is very helpful for the community and has eased the burden on residents. During the dry season, water levels in many residents’ wells have dropped, resulting in queues for water, while the remaining water has also become increasingly murky,” Sunarto said.
He explained that residents have had to take turns collecting water using jerry cans and water containers. The situation has made it increasingly difficult to meet daily water needs, particularly for households whose water sources are beginning to dry up. (*)
