Jembrana's drought response continues as villages wait for reliable water supplies

In brief: Emergency water deliveries are still underway in parts of Jembrana, the regency covering western Bali. On 13 October 2026, local disaster officials said nearly 600,000 litres had been distributed to help 1,048 households affected by water shortages.

For residents, this remains a day-to-day supply problem. Relief trucks can refill communal storage tanks, but that doesn't restore a dependable connection to every home.

Deliveries have been running since July

Jembrana's Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded 119 water deliveries totalling 532,200 litres between 16 July and 2 October. The agency reported support for 1,048 affected households, with deliveries also reaching schools and places of worship. The local Red Cross and police have taken part in the response.

An agency notice dated 2 October offers a closer view of how the operation works: 5,000 litres went to Banjar Pengajaran in Berangbang village, Negara district, for an area serving 260 households. These local deliveries form part of the wider relief effort. Figures for individual trips and overlapping reporting periods cannot simply be added together.

The latest figures, reported on 13 October by BPBD chief I Putu Agus Artana Putra, put the cumulative supply at almost 600,000 litres. Officials described shortages affecting seven villages and 14 banjars, or local communities. The 1,048-household figure remained unchanged in that update.

Storage and pipe problems complicate the response

According to the 13 October account, deliveries are being rotated between affected locations because demand is high and the local public water utility, PDAM, faces supply constraints. Some communal tanks are reportedly emptied in less than two days. The district government has said it has placed storage tanks at 18 locations and provided additional temporary storage.

Repairs to damaged pipes and further pumping capacity have also been discussed. Those proposals are separate from the emergency deliveries already taking place; neither a proposed repair nor a new storage tank establishes that normal service has returned.

This is a localised account of shortages in parts of Jembrana, not evidence of a Bali-wide water failure. Someone considering a long-term rental in the affected area needs information about the actual property: its water source, usable storage, refill arrangements and responsibility for any extra delivery costs. A district-wide total cannot answer how reliably one home will receive water.

• Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), “Kekeringan Meluas, BPBD Jembrana Salurkan 532 Ribu Liter Air Bersih” — 4 October 2026.
• Baliberkarya, “Pemkab Jembrana Salurkan 600 Ribu Liter Air Bersih Tangani Dampak Kekeringan” — 13 October 2026.