Access to clean water is a fundamental public service that local governments are obliged to
provide. Gunung Kidul Regency, characterized by its extensive karst landscape, faces persistent
challenges in ensuring adequate clean water availability, particularly during the dry season when both
the quality and quantity of water significantly decline. This research aims to examine the role of the
local government in providing clean water and to identify the obstacles encountered in implementing
clean water supply services in the region. This study employs an empirical legal research method,
collecting data through interviews, questionnaires, and field observations involving residents of Giri
Cahyo Hamlet as well as government officials from Bappeda, DPUPKP, PDAM Tirta Handayani, and
BPBD of Gunung Kidul Regency.The findings reveal that the local government performs three main
functions: regulation, implementation/service delivery, and supervision. Through planning documents
such as the RPJMD, OPD Strategic Plans, and the Regional Drinking Water Supply Plan (RIPAM), the
government establishes policy directions for water supply development. In practice, the government
provides clean water services through piped systems (PDAM and community-based SPAM) and non-
piped systems such as deep wells, rainwater harvesting units, and emergency water trucking during
periods of severe drought. Supervision is carried out through monitoring water quality and quantity,
evaluating program performance, and responding to community complaints. However, the provision of
clean water remains hindered by several factors, including the karst geological conditions that limit
surface water availability, inadequate water infrastructure, limited technical capacity within PDAM
and community-based systems, and insufficient local budget allocation, leading to dependence on
national programs and external funding.This research concludes that while the local government has
fulfilled its regulatory, operational, and supervisory roles, the effectiveness of clean water provision
continues to be constrained by geographic, technical, and financial challenges. Strengthening karst-
adaptive infrastructure, enhancing inter-agency coordination, diversifying funding sources, and
empowering communities are essential to achieving sustainable clean water access in Gunung Kidul
Regency.