Sukabumi, W Java (ANTARA News) - Fifteen sub-districts in Sukabumi district, West Java, are running short of clean water during the dry season, a spokesman said.

"The 15 sub-districts are mostly located in the southern part of Sukabumi district," Head of the Sukabumi District Natural Disaster Mitigation Board (BPBD) Ferry A Furqon said on Tuesday.

The clean water shortage hit hardest Surade and Sagaranten sub-districts, he said.

The prolonged drought, coupled with the declining rate of river water flow was to blame for the clean water shortage, he said.

To prevent the clean water shortage from worsening, the BPBD was coordinating with the local drinking water company (PDAM) to supply clean water to the affected areas, he said.

"We are making an effort to find solution so the clean water shortage affecting the areas can be overcome," he said.

In addition, the board was also cooperating with private companies through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to build clean water infrastructure to deal with the clean water shortage, he said.

Chief of the Sukabumi district legislative body (DPRD) Badri Suhendi said the drought affecting Sukabumi district was a natural disaster that must be dealt with intensively to prevent it from spreading to other areas.

He asked the local administration to focus on handling the clean water shortage, adding more and more people had difficulties finding clean water during the drought.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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