Prolonged drought forces emergency measures as reservoir levels drop across Batam

Batam is facing a growing water crisis as prolonged dry weather strains raw water supplies, prompting authorities to activate emergency response measures ahead of major religious holidays.

Emergency Status Declared Amid Prolonged Drought
The Batam City Government, BP Batam, and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum held a coordination meeting at Batam Mayor’s Office on February 9, 2026, to address preparedness for upcoming religious holidays and the worsening clean water situation. The meeting was led by Batam Mayor Amsakar Achmad and Deputy Mayor Li Claudia Chandra.

Reservoir Levels Continue to Decline
Deputy for Public Services at BP Batam, Ariastuty Sirait, confirmed that Batam has officially entered an emergency raw water condition. The declaration follows a prolonged dry season that has significantly reduced reservoir volumes. Current data shows water levels are falling by an average of 2 to 3 centimeters per day across major reservoirs.

Limited Water Reserves Across Key Dams
If rainfall does not occur soon, BP Batam estimates remaining water resilience as limited. Sei Harapan Reservoir has approximately one month and eight days of supply left, while Muka Kuning stands at one month and fourteen days. Nongsa Reservoir may last about two months, while Sei Ladi could sustain for four months. The largest reservoirs, Duriangkang and Tembesi, are estimated to hold for just over five months.

Rising Demand Ahead of Ramadan
As of January 31, 2026, Batam has 342,253 registered clean water customers. With Ramadan and Idulfitri approaching, water demand is expected to rise sharply. BP Batam has identified 28 areas requiring additional tanker water distribution, with an estimated need of nearly 200 delivery trips.

Tanker Fleet Expansion Underway
Distribution capacity remains a key challenge. Of 21 available tanker trucks, only 14 have been operational in recent weeks. To address this, BP Batam has expanded its fleet through procurement, vehicle modification, rentals, and the use of water tank trucks from BP Batam and ABH. With these measures, total tanker capacity is expected to reach 34 units.

Artificial Rain Considered as Last Resort
Based on forecasts from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, rainfall is not expected until March. Authorities are considering artificial rain operations as a contingency plan, though the high cost remains a concern.

Government Prioritizes Public Access to Clean Water
Mayor Amsakar Achmad stressed that ensuring uninterrupted access to clean water during Ramadan and Idulfitri is the government’s top priority. He instructed all related agencies to maximize tanker distribution and optimize existing supply systems to prevent disruptions for residents.

Batam’s raw water emergency highlights the city’s vulnerability to prolonged dry seasons and growing demand. Coordinated action between local authorities and BP Batam will be critical to maintaining public services, particularly as the city approaches important religious periods that place additional pressure on essential resources.

Sources: Tribun Batam (2026)

Keywords: Batam Water Supply, Raw Water Emergency, Batam Reservoirs, Clean Water Distribution