Is it obligatory to search for water before performing tayammum?

He says: If you are in a place where the water is cut off, is it permissible for me to perform tayammum, or must I go by car to a place where water is available, knowing that water is available about ten kilometers away or less?
As long as the water is available, he must strive to get the water; because this is considered close by custom. So he must perform wudu' and not perform tayammum. However, if it is far such that most of the time is missed, or the time is missed, then there is no blame on him for performing tayammum.