‘SELANGOR RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT MORE CUTS’
Failure of state govt to complete restructuring of water industry to blame, says Ongkili
SOME 2.5 million consumers in Selangor would see a repeat of the recent week-long water crisis if the main issue is not resolved, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.
He said the main issue in the matter was the low treated water reserve margin, which was at zero capacity according to baseline calculations.
“But, if we calculate the margin based on the distributable capacity from production overloading, the water reserve is at five per cent.
“The total (water) reserve will constantly change due to factors affecting consumer demand.”
Consumers in Selangor were forced to go without water for a week when emergency repairs were carried out at the Sungai Selangor Phase 3 (SSP3) Water Treatment Plant.
A total of 563,662 domestic and non-domestic account holders were affected by the water shortage, which struck parts of the Klang Valley earlier this month.
Ongkili said the Selangor water crisis occurred because the PKRled state government had yet to complete the restructuring of the water services industry.
The state government, he said, was responsible to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the Klang Valley.
He said the ministry had introduced longterm plans and initiatives, including the restructuring of the water services industry, which had been agreed to by the Selangor government through an agreement, signed in September 2014.
According to the agreement, entities involved in the management of water supply in Selangor would be merged under one entity named Syarikat Air Selangor, which is fully owned by the state government.
“With more than RM10 billion worth of investments made, the water reserve margin is expected to reach between 15 per cent and 20 per cent as a result of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant project and the distribution of raw water from Pahang.
“The state government, however, had yet to complete the final stage of the restructuring process, which is the takeover of Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash), a water treatment company, that had been prolonged since September 2016.”
He took a swipe at Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for fabricating accusations against the Federal Government to divert people’s attention from the state government’s failure to manage water supply.
“The ministry secretary-general, Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang, who had been tasked with resolving issues related to water supply services, had repeatedly explained to the media the situation and the actual cause of the Selangor water crisis, which is the low reserve in treated water to consumers based on the design of the water plant.
“Although there are efforts to increase the capacity of the water treatment plant and distribution pipes using mitigation approach, it is only temporary.
“I would like to stress that the Federal Government is committed to resolving the water crisis in Klang Valley and we have a longterm plan to address the problem.
“I would like to remind the state government to stop misleading the people and placing the blame for the water crisis on the Federal Government or individuals,” Ongkili said.