REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- Padang City residents are currently facing two threats at once. First is the smog disaster. Second is the disaster of drought as the impact of drought.
Padang officials through the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) have in recent weeks been forced to descend to the homes of residents to distribute clean water aid. Because the residents' clean water source has started to dry up.
“As is known, the raw water sources of Perumda Drinking Water (Perumda AM) Kota Padang are the rivers that exist in Padang City, which are currently experiencing a decrease in discharge due to drought,” Perumda AM Padang President Director Hendra Pebrizal said on Saturday (21/10/2023).
As a form of anticipation, Perumda AM according to Hendra carried out dredging (normalization) of the river in one of the intakes of drinking water in Padang City. This is an effort by Perumda AM Kota Padang in ensuring and minimizing service disruptions to customers during the dry season.
“The dryness of the river as a source of raw water, has a huge impact on the production of water that will be distributed to customers and the public,” Hendra said.
With this dredging, Hendra hopes that the availability of raw water as the main material for clean water production will be maintained and the service to customers will continue to run at maximum.
“Hopefully this dry season ends soon, and rain falls soon,” Hendra added.
Padang Mayor Hendri Septa, meanwhile, asked residents who need clean water as a result of drought during the dry season to report through the 112 call center.
The distribution of clean water will be carried out by Perumda Drinking Water and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Padang using tank cars. “People in Padang area please contact 112 for water distribution to their respective areas,” Hendri said.
He added that Perumda AM and BPBD have been sending, distributing water on areas in need, due to drought. The four districts receiving clean water assistance are Lubuk Kilangan, Lubuk Begalung, Pauh and Padang Selatan. Hendri Septa added that the distribution of clean water will continue, as long as people are still in need.