CIANJUR — Before dawn breaks, an elderly woman in Kampung Gelarkubang, Cinerang Village, Naringgul District, begins her weary steps toward a distant water source. Her hope is simple: to bring home a few liters of drinking water for her family. But upon arrival, she finds the spring already dry. Whatever little water remained had been taken by others who came as early as 2 a.m. With exhaustion on her face, she returns home—empty-handed, without a single drop of clean water.
This heartbreaking reality is not hers alone. All 78 households—around 234 people—living in Gelarkubang endure the same struggle. In this hill-surrounded village, water is a scarce treasure, especially during the long dry season.
“When the dry season lasts just two weeks, the water flow from the mountains already decreases. Even then, it can only be used for bathing and washing, not for drinking,” explained one resident.
For drinking water, villagers usually walk 200–300 meters to a small groundwater source. Sadly, during the dry season, that water lasts no more than five days before drying up completely.
When rain does fall, the water turns murky and unsafe for consumption. Some families try to collect rainwater in buckets and jugs, hoping to filter it for daily needs.
The situation worsens at the peak of the dry season. Villagers—young and old—must walk as far as five kilometers just to fetch water. It is a grueling journey, especially for children and the elderly whose bodies are too frail for such distances.
The drought also cripples farming. Villagers can only plant rice once a year, and even then, harvests often fail due to water shortages. The drought dries not only their fields but also their hopes.
During a visit on Wednesday (September 24, 2025), the DT Peduli Cianjur team witnessed firsthand the urgent need for a sustainable clean water solution. Local community leader Sukirna voiced his longing:
“We really hope for a water source that can keep flowing even in the long dry season, so we can live more decently,” he said.
Residents dream that with helping hands, they might one day have a steady supply of clean water—so their children can grow up healthy, without the constant torment of thirst.