The construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant is no longer an option but a necessity to avert a water crisis in Selangor, according to Universiti Teknologi Mara professor.
The university’s assistant vice-chancellor for development, facilities management and ICT Prof Dr Suhaimi Abdul Talib said the proposed Langat 2 plant would relieve the pressure from the existing treatment plants operating beyond their capacity.
“The Langat plant can actually address that issue, so we need this treatment plant,” he said.
An engineer by training, Prof Suhaimi said the areas in Selangor facing water disruptions were in areas where the treatment plants were operating at full capacity, with some at 120 per cent capacity.
“If the water demand in these areas increases, there will be shortages and this will trigger rationing. From my observation, Selangor is already on the verge of a water crisis and this is all due to the rapid economic development in the state which has outstripped the infrastructure at the moment,” he added.
Prof Suhaimi said two years ago, Selangor’s water reserves stood at 6 per cent but this dropped to less than 3 per cent this year, compared to the ideal reserve of 10 per cent.
The Selangor government under the Pakatan Rakyat coalition has yet to approve the development order for the Langat 2 plant but the Federal government has announced that it is proceeding with the project.
