Aceh Besar Faces Dual Crisis as Clean Water Scarcity Hits Residents

In Aceh Besar, Indonesia, the drying up of the Mata Ie karst, a primary water source, is severely impacting the lives of local residents. This issue, predicted by experts as early as 2008 to occur within a decade, became a reality when the source completely dried up for the first time in 2017. Since then, the area has faced drought almost annually. The Mata Ie source has been crucial for supplying drinking water to 14,234 customers of PDAM Tirta Mountala, covering areas like Darul Imarah, Darul Kamal, Peukan Bada, and villages in Lhoknga. However, outside the rainy season, especially during dry spells, water levels drop drastically, forcing residents to resort to washing clothes in public ponds. Rahmayani, a resident of Geundring village, notes, "It's quite helpful for saving water and costs at home," but admits the source has become unreliable in recent years. During the 2024 drought, Ani from Lambheu village experienced no running water from her taps for two days. For the first time, she had to purchase water from a tanker truck, spending Rp300,000 to fill three water tanks at her home. This represents a significant financial burden for residents accustomed to relying on tap water. A similar crisis has been felt earlier by residents around the Lhoknga Karst, approximately 17-18 kilometers from Mata Ie. Yeni Hartini, head of SP Aceh and a resident of Naga Umbang, states that wells now dry up within a month without rain, a stark contrast to the past when they never ran dry. Residents have had to dig deeper, requiring 10 to 16 well rings instead of the previous eight. Yeni suspects limestone mining by PT Solusi... may be contributing to this situation. This problem extends beyond mere water scarcity, posing a serious social challenge that threatens the local economy and residents' livelihoods. Experts are calling for the conservation of karst landscapes and sustainable water resource management.