Friday September 16, 2005
Water level at Selangor dams dropping
BY LOONG MENG YEE AND JONATHAN CHEW
SHAH ALAM: Save water – that is the instruction from the authorities to the 7.3 million residents in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur as the water levels of dams are dropping towards the critical point.
The authorities are hoping to save up to 1,850 million cubic metres of water daily with the help of the public so as to avoid rationing.
Not enough rain is falling in the right places and the level of the Sungai Selangor dam, which supplies 65% of the water used in the two states, has dropped to the 40% mark, just 10% above the critical level.
At the 30% level, the Selangor government will need to activate water-rationing measures.
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DOWN, DOWN, DOWN: The water level at the Sungai Selangor dam has dropped to 40% of its capacity as seen in this picture taken by The Starat 6.15pm Thursday. |
The state government made the call to conserve water yesterday as six major dams had recorded less rainfall between June and last month, compared with the corresponding period in previous years.
However, Abdul Fatah stressed that the situation was under control as the six dams were still able to provide a regular supply of raw water to treatment plants.
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Abdul Fatah: ‘There is no need to hit the panic button just now’ |
Abdul Fatah said the advice to conserve water included cutting back on the use of hoses to wash cars and water plants.
“Should anyone come across broken or leaking pipes, please immediately inform Syabas (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd) to initiate repairs,” he added.
He said if consumers co-operated, water consumption could be reduced by as much as half of the 3,700 million cubic metres used daily in Selangor and the Federal Territory.
Abdul Fatah said the state hoped water conservation efforts and heavier rainfall over the dam areas would improve the situation, adding that he has been holding weekly meetings with the water management committee.
“We will closely monitor the situation and the water levels at the dams to plan appropriate action,” he said.
If Selangor initiates rationing, it will not be the first state to do so this year.
Negri Sembilan imposed rationing late June after the three dams that supply water to Seremban residents – Sungai Terip, Talang and Kelinchi – dropped to near critical levels.
Meanwhile, Meteorological Services Department director-general Chow Kok Kee said no heavy rains were expected across the country until the inter-monsoon sets in at the end of this month.
“We are doing cloud-seeding over Kluang in Johor.
“The department is also preparing to carry out cloud-seeding over parts of Selangor on a need-to basis,” he said.
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