Residents in the Kota Tinggi district, especially those receiving water supply from the Sungai Lebam water treatment plant, are advised to use water prudently following a sharp drop in water level at the Sungai Lebam Dam.
Kota Tinggi district officer, Mohd Noorazam Osman said about 30,000 consumers living in and around the Felda Air Tawar 5 land scheme right up to Pengerang depended on the Sg Lebam treatment plant for their daily water supply.
“The dam’s water levels have been dropping since last year, but the situation now is a little critical.”
He said besides the La Nina factor, the water level drop was also due to the wind direction which pushed away clouds, causing the lack of rainfall over the water catchment area.
“The same problem occurs at other water catchment areas such as in Mersing and Johor Baharu, as well as the Singapore Public Utility Board’s treatment plant.
“However, the volume of water at the (Sungai Lebam) dam can still last for up to three months and there is no water rationing at the moment,” he said when contacted.
Meanwhile, Mohd Noorazam also urged residents not to panic over the situation, but to use water prudently and to also pray like through ‘solat hajat’ for rain to come to ensure sufficient water supply.
He said that yesterday, they held a ‘solat hajat’ at the Sungai Lebam water treatment plant in seeking divine intervention in the rainfall shortage problem.
