Immediate focus: The actual carrying capacity of the reservoirs such as the Mengkuang one in Bukit Mertajam needs to be checked. — Filepix
CYBERJAYA: Poor maintenance and a lack of audits, coupled with climate change, are threatening the viability of seven reservoirs supplying water to the public in Kedah, Melaka, Penang and Johor, with the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) classifying them as “at high risk”.
In a press conference here yesterday, SPAN chairman Charles Santiago said the reservoirs are Pedu and Muda in Kedah; Asahan, Jus and Durian Tunggal in Melaka; Linggiu in Johor; and Mengkuang on the Penang mainland.
Santiago said these were the infrastructure identified in SPAN’s Dam Water Levels and Dam Water Supplies Risk Assessment Report, which was conducted based on the physical performance, storage levels and the number of water treatment plants around the reservoirs.
“Water levels aren’t at dangerous (low) levels, but the supply of water from these dams is at high risk,” said Santiago, who added that 55 of the 104 dams in Malaysia are supplying water to the public.
ALSO READ: Build coastal reservoirs, not inland dams, PKR veep urges Sabah
Of the 55, 16 are older than 50 years.
Santiago said the problem stems from the fact that SPAN does not know what the actual carrying capacity of these reservoirs is, as siltation over the years has caused silt to gather at the bottom of the reservoir, thus reducing its actual capacity to hold water.
“We don’t know how much silt is at the bottom of the reservoirs.
“A study of active and dead storage needs to be carried out because, under the original design, there have been significant changes ever since,” added Santiago.
ALSO READ: Ex-MP joins chorus for coastal reservoirs
“For example, if the reservoir has been designed for 20 million litres per day (MLD), but there’s only a carrying capacity of 15 MLD,” said Santiago.
“There’s no way to know because those are very old dams and because of poor maintenance and no proper auditing; therefore, this is an issue that we should focus on,” he said, adding that the state governments of the affected facilities are aware of the issues and are currently addressing them.
Meanwhile, Santiago said that it is important for these problematic dams to be audited and have regular maintenance and upkeep.
“That’s why there has to be an internal audit by agencies. They must start looking into it now,” he said, adding that he will also meet Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad next week to discuss the report.
ALSO READ: Environs Ministry leaves it to Kedah govt to decide on Gunung Inas reservoirs
To ensure better water security, Santiago proposed that the state governments develop riverine water storage areas that draw raw water from the river before directing them to storage reservoirs for pre-treatment to remove as much sediment as possible. This pre-treated water can then be sent to water treatment plants.
Santiago said Selangor has been using this concept since 2008 in Bestari Jaya, where former mining areas were converted into storage ponds.
“Other state governments need to adopt a similar approach. We must understand that it’s not only the rivers that are important, but the reservoirs as well, in ensuring the sustainability of the water supply.
“What is more important is that we cannot play with water (issues) anymore. We must be serious and cannot wait for another five years to make changes. We must start now.”
SPAN is a body which regulates the technical and economic aspects of water supply.
