A prolonged dry spell left about 500 residents in four Padawan villages short of water after their wells and gravity-fed systems dried up. [image: 1786669582960-20260814-padawan-water.jpg] The affected communities were Kampung Sitang, Kampung Biya Nusaraya, Kampung Biya Parang and Kampung Peremas. Their village chiefs channelled requests for help through the Padawan Sub-district Office after local water sources could no longer meet daily needs. At the time of the Aug 13 report, the Welfare Department had delivered bottled water to Kampung Biya Nusaraya and Kampung Biya Parang. That detail matters: assistance had started, but the report did not say that every affected household in all four villages had already received supplies. This was a rural-source shortage, not a citywide Kuching outage. Communities that depend on wells and gravity-fed systems can run short much earlier during a dry spell. Kampung Bangau, Kampung Petang and other upper Padawan villages were also identified as being at risk if dry weather continued. Residents facing the same problem should report it quickly through their village head or the Padawan Sub-district Office so demand can be recorded and aid coordinated. Official rural water notices can also be checked through JBALB Sarawak. Affected: Four Padawan villages, about 500 residents Photo: DayakDaily Sources: DayakDaily report · JBALB Sarawak