News

  • Nation
  • World Updates
  • Courts
  • Parliament
  • Columnists
  • Opinion
  • Honours List

Thursday June 11, 2009

Conserve water from now, Klang Valley folk warned

By TEH ENG HOCK


PETALING JAYA: Water rationing could start next month for Klang Valley residents if they do not conserve water from now.

Drainage and Irrigation Depart-ment hydrology and water resources director Datuk Lim Chow Hock said water shortage would be more critical in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur due to the dense population.

He said those in Penang and Kedah should also brace for dry tap days if the current hot weather persisted.

On Tuesday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas had asked Malaysians to prepare themselves for hotter days over the next three months with the return of the El Nino phenomenon.

So far so good: The water level as seen at the Kuala Kubu Baru Dam at 5.15pm yesterday. If residents do not save water, rationing may be necessary.

Lim said that drastic measures like water rationing may not be necessary if consumers did not waste water. “When you wash your car, use pails instead of a hose. Water your garden less frequently. Do not let the water run when you are brushing your teeth,” he said.

At the moment the water levels at most dams in the country have not reached the critical mark.

In the Klang Valley, the Sungai Langat, Klang Gates and Batu dams were at full capacity, while the Tasik Subang dam was at 87% yesterday.

Puncak Niaga forecasts that the dams would have enough water for 161 days or 5.4 months even if the dry spell continued.

A Meteorological Department spokesman said that there would be more rain in September, during the inter-monsoon period, and heavy rain during the North-East Monsoon.

In Johor, the water levels at nine river dams was stable despite the possible threat of a drought.

Syarikat Air Johor Holdings head of communications Jamaluddin Jamal said the company had contingency measures should the level begins to fall.

In Malacca, the water level at two of the state’s dams in Alor Gajah and Jasin was also reported to be within healthy levels.

“Although we are experiencing a dry spell, there is sufficient water supply to meet the state’s need as we process about 118 million litres of water a day from the dams,” said Syarikat Air Melaka Bhd chief executive officer Mohd Khalid Nasir yesterday.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

News Poll