PDAM steps in as Gili Trawangan water crisis hits peak holiday season

North Lombok — Authorities in North Lombok regency have turned to the regional water utility PDAM Amerta Dayan Gunung to help manage a clean-water crisis on Gili Trawangan, after piped supplies to the island’s hotels, businesses and homes were cut in early September during the peak holiday period, according to local government statements and media reports.

The outage began around midnight on Thursday, 3 September 2026, when the main supply operated by PT Tiara Cipta Nirwana (TCN) in partnership with PDAM was halted over licensing and environmental compliance issues, disrupting sanitation across tourist accommodation and restaurants on the island.

North Lombok Regent Najmul Akhyar said PDAM Amerta Dayan Gunung has been prepared to deliver up to 60–70 cubic metres of water per day to Gili Trawangan, based on an assessment of daily needs for around 600 households and tourism businesses. The regency government is temporarily relying on PDAM to safeguard basic water access in the wider Gili Tramena area, which includes Gili Trawangan.

According to Najmul, PDAM has begun channeling water to residential areas as an interim measure, with operational costs initially covered from PDAM’s internal budget and early distribution to residents expected to be free of charge. The utility is also preparing conventional or "dropping" deliveries of clean water, prioritising local residents, public facilities, health services and essential sanitation needs.

Impact on tourism businesses

The clean-water crisis has hit Gili Trawangan at the height of the holiday season, a period when the island usually experiences strong domestic and international visitor demand. Hotels, villas and restaurants have reported severe operational difficulties, with some properties resorting to pumping water from swimming pools and importing drinking and household water from mainland Lombok to keep basic services running.

Broadcast and online reports from Mataram and North Lombok state that hundreds of tourists have checked out early due to the disruption, with at least 300 foreign visitors leaving the island ahead of schedule. Media covering the crisis also note that several hotels are at risk of temporarily closing if the water supply is not restored soon, with five properties identified as particularly vulnerable.

Industry representatives and officials have warned that the prolonged shortage is damaging the reputation of one of West Nusa Tenggara’s flagship destinations, with estimated tourism losses running into the billions of rupiah per day. Local businesses have reported cancellations, shortened stays and refund requests as travellers reconsider visits in light of the continued uncertainty over water supplies.

Cause of the disruption and regulatory response

PDAM officials have linked the service interruption to issues surrounding the seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) system, which desalinates seawater for distribution to Gili Trawangan. The plant is undergoing a transitional operational adjustment, including technical work and the resolution of permits and environmental control requirements.

Provincial authorities say the halt in PT TCN’s operations is tied to outstanding environmental licensing and central-government regulatory concerns, including a previous instruction from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to stop the supply pending compliance. As a short-term solution, North Lombok regency and West Nusa Tenggara province have agreed to grant TCN a six-month discretionary period to resume water flows while the company completes its permit process with national agencies.

The provincial government has publicly targeted a one- to two-day timeframe for restoring normal piped supplies, although local media note that PDAM has not yet provided a firm date for full service resumption and is continuing emergency measures on the ground. In the meantime, travellers planning trips that include Gili Trawangan are being advised by tourism outlets to confirm water and sanitation conditions directly with accommodation providers before arrival.

Gili Trawangan, part of North Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, is a popular extension for visitors spending time in Bali, often included in wider itineraries that combine beach resorts, diving and island-hopping across the region.

Sources

• Bisnis.com Bali – "Gili Trawangan Krisis Air Bersih"
• detik.com – "Najmul Pastikan PDAM Pasok 70 Kubik Air Sehari Atasi Krisis di Gili Trawangan"
• IDN Times NTB – "5 Hotel Bakal Tutup Imbas Krisis Air Bersih di Gili Trawangan"
• RRI Voice of Indonesia (English) – "Clean Water Crisis Forces Hundreds of Tourists to Leave Gili Trawangan Early"
• Bali.live – "Gili Trawangan Water Crisis Forces 300 Tourists to Leave"
• NTBSatu – "Krisis Air Ganggu Pariwisata Gili Trawangan, Pemkab Lombok Utara Beri Diskresi untuk PT TCN"
• GoBaliGo – "Bali News｜Gili Trawangan Water Shortage"