Where water is short
According to BPBD, the regional disaster agency, 529 families were hit by drought by mid-August 2026. Affected regencies include Buleleng, Bangli, Jembrana and Karangasem, with villages such as Sinabun, Pendem, Asahduren, Manistutu and Baturinggit.
In total the province delivered 305,000 litres of water. Buleleng received 158,000 litres, Jembrana 137,000 and Karangasem 10,000.
BMKG's warning
In March 2026 BMKG, Indonesia's weather agency, forecast a dry season of about six months from March to August. In 2025 it lasted around four months.
The north of the island, Nusa Penida and southern Klungkung face the highest risk. Forecaster Trayi Budi Samantu warned that a weak El Nino from July to October could make the drought prolonged or extreme.
The response
Besides tankers, the province is repairing pipelines and installing pumps in vulnerable areas. Together with the Agriculture Ministry it is mapping boreholes that can be activated for irrigation.
Provincial secretary Dewa Made Indra acknowledged a dry season with a real risk of water scarcity. He said BPBD had already checked its equipment and readiness.
Deliveries are organised by the provincial BPBD. Pipe repairs and new pumps are meant to reduce villages' reliance on tankers in the dry months ahead.
How the forecast unfolded
BMKG expected the drought to start in early March on Nusa Penida, spread further by mid-March and cover the whole island by August. In 90% of zones the season was forecast to be drier than normal.
Forecasters advised planning water resources ahead, conserving water, scheduling irrigation and preparing for wildfires.