The ruling on one who does not find water while in a town

Question:
Our brother asks and says: If a believer does not find water, and he goes to the mosque but finds no water there, is it permissible for him to perform tayammum? Or must he search for water with his neighbors and look for it within a square kilometer, as some preachers say?

Answer:
As long as he is in a town, he must search for water, and it is not permissible for him to perform tayammum. Rather, he should search for water and buy it. If it becomes available without buying, praise be to Allah; otherwise, let him search for it, buy it, perform wudu, and drink.
As for in the desert during travel, if he is in a place where water is likely to be found, he should seek water. If there is no likelihood of water around him, with no pools or wells nearby, then he should perform tayammum, and praise be to Allah.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. Is the area specified as a kilometer?

The Shaykh: There is no fixed limit by custom. If the distance is such that it is difficult for him to go to the water, he goes to the water while traveling. As for in a town, he is obligated to buy it, and it is not limited by anything, because water is available. But this is in travel, if he knows it is nearby, meaning: if going to it does not cause him hardship, he goes to it and performs wudu; otherwise, he prays with tayammum.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.