Enough water for Raya

There will be no shortage during festive season, confirms DID

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is not expected to face any raw water shortage during the Hari Raya period as most dams are at satisfactory levels despite the prolonged hot and dry weather.

“DID monitors 21 major dams throughout Malaysia and their capacities now are adequate to supply raw water to treatment plants during this period,” said Drainage and Irrigation Department of Malaysia’s (DID) water resources management and hydrology division director Hanapi Mohamad Noor.

The Sungai Selangor dam, which supplies 60% of raw water to Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, is at almost 80% of its capacity.

Hanapi said even if it does not rain over the next two months, the level in the Sungai Selangor dam is projected to fall to 60%, compared to 35% last year, an episode that led to water rationing in some parts of Klang Valley that year.

However, despite the lower risk this year, Hanapi said DID still wants water management and conservation measures to be implemented.

If necessary, DID will recommend the gradual reduction of water releases from the Sungai Selangor dam to conserve water.

In addition, DID Selangor and state subsidiary Kumpulan Sementa Sdn Bhd had prepared 22 new pumps to move water from designated former tin mining ponds in Kuala Selangor to top up levels in Sungai Selangor if the need arises.

Water treatment plants downstream of Kuala Selangor would either stop working or function at reduced capacity if the river level drops too much, which could happen during prolonged dry season.

Hanapi said the current dry season, brought about by the southwest monsoon, is expected to last until September.

So far, only the Labong dam in Mersing, Johor is at a critical level because most of its water is used to irrigate padi fields.