Sorong, Jubi – Residents of Baros village in Klasafet District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua Province, are struggling to access clean water after the flow of water from several wells – their main source of clean water – declined.

Some wells have even dried up during a prolonged dry season that has affected the area for several months.

Baros village head Ever Krimadi said many residents' wells run dry during the dry season.

"This has become a serious problem because people still need water every day. Clean water is a basic necessity," Krimadi said on Wednesday (3 September 2026).

He called on the Sorong Regency Government to help residents meet their clean water needs.

"People need clean water for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing. Therefore, access to clean water must be a priority for the government," he said.

Krimadi said both the regency and provincial governments should build clean water infrastructure for people in villages, including Baros.

He said access to clean water should be made a development priority.

"We need clean water infrastructure that can actually be used by the community. The government needs to come and see the conditions in the village firsthand and assess what people need," he said.

He said any clean water infrastructure should have an adequate and reliable water source and be capable of operating over the long term.

He also called for clear maintenance systems to ensure residents do not face another clean water crisis in the future.

Krimadi said providing communities with reliable access to clean water would also improve their health and quality of life.

"We are asking the government to pay attention to our need for clean water infrastructure. This is a basic community need. We hope the regency, provincial and national governments will take this issue seriously," Krimadi said.

He said the government should urgently identify villages struggling with access to clean water and build infrastructure capable of withstanding dry seasons, so residents do not have to face the same problem every year.

Source: https://en.jubi.id/baros-villagers-in-sorong-regency-struggle-to-access-clean-water