Natural Spring Becomes Lifeline for Mekarsari Residents During Drought
- 18 Jul 2026 13:27 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- Residents of Mekarsari Subdistrict in Cilegon rely on a natural spring on the slopes of Mount Batur as their only water source during the current drought.
- Borehole projects have proven ineffective because the area's rocky terrain makes groundwater extraction difficult.
RRI.CO.ID, Cilegon - The threat of seasonal drought in Mekarsari Subdistrict, Cilegon City, Banten Province, underscores the importance of protecting the forest ecosystem on the slopes of Mount Batur. After modern infrastructure such as boreholes failed because of the area’s rocky soil, natural springs seeping from the mountain’s rock crevices have become the community’s sole water source.
Water scarcity in Cilegon has worsened over the past month due to the lack of rainfall. Resident Herlina (30) said the spring inside the forest is now the only hope for people living nearby.
She said she must struggle daily to meet her family’s basic needs, making a difficult journey each day. Villagers walk about one kilometer along a footpath into the forest to reach the spring and collect clean water.
“Every day we walk roughly one kilometer into the forest. This is our only spring when drought hits like now,” she said, as quoted by Antara.
Herlina said the spring is vital for her family’s survival and for the village. The fresh water streaming from the mountain rock is used for cooking, drinking, bathing and washing. “If this spring were gone, we wouldn’t know where to get water. The mountain water is very fresh,” she said.
To ensure fair access and adequate supply, residents have organized a 24-hour, orderly queueing system. “We queue from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Jakarta time, so the site is busy day and night. Each day only seven to eight people get a turn. During the day you might get 12 jerrycans, but at night up to 14 because it’s cooler,” she explained.
Another resident, Masitoh (45), said the community’s reliance on the spring has increased, especially since outside or administration water assistance remains limited.
“Administration water aid has arrived only about twice so far. Fortunately this natural spring keeps flowing, though its discharge has decreased because there’s no rain,” she said.
For residents of Mount Batur, the area’s hard-rock geography makes drilling boreholes difficult. Therefore, preserving the hillside springs is central to the community’s water security and resilience against seasonal drought, while they wait for rains to replenish their natural catchment. ***
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