Come Friday, a staggering 6.7 million people will be forced to endure water rationing as taps continue to run dry despite the steady rainfall.
In a desperate bid to manage its dwindling water reserves, the Selangor government has further slashed the volume of water released from the Sungai Selangor dam by an additional 500 million litres daily.
This is in addition to its previous reduction of also 500 million litres daily, effectively bringing the total reduction to a billion litres daily since the water crisis began on March 2.
Unveiling the next phase of water rationing yesterday, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) said the move is expected to affect 6.7 million people in nine districts - Gombak, Petaling, Klang / Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat and Sepang.
Also not spared were 620,237 households in Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, who would also face water rationing.
SPAN chairman Datuk Ismail Kassim described the situation as “critical” and said the next phase of rationing was necessary.
The Sungai Selangor dam, he said, provides 60 per cent of the Klang Valley’s water source.
“Given the present situation, the Selangor government had no choice but to reduce the water output from the Sungai Selangor dam.
“If the dam’s water levels are not carefully maintained, its reserves will deplete and its impact on Selangor, the Federal Territory and Putrajaya will be severe,” he told a press conference at SPAN headquarters here, yesterday.
Ismail said the recent rainfall had not improved the situation at the seven dams - Sungai Selangor, Sungai Tinggi, Sungai Semenyih, Sungai Langat, Klang Gates, Tasik Subang and Sungai Batu, which supply water to treatment plants in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
“Although it has been raining in Klang valley since March 16, the amount of rainfall is still low. Aside from that, the rainfall this year is lower, coupled with the increased production of treated water compared to the previous years.
“Despite the rainfall, water levels have only increased slightly in the dams. The rain did not fall in the required catchment areas,” he said, adding that this has prompted the authorities to implement the next phase of rationing.
Ismail said the next phase of rationing for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya residents will begin at 9am this Friday until April 30.
The areas would be divided into four zones and water supply would be provided based on the the two-days on, two-days off system.
Consumers can refer to the distribution table provided in the SPAN website (www.span.gov.my) to identify their respective areas.
On days when areas are scheduled to receive water, supply would begin at 4pm. After the two day period, water would then be cut off at 9am.
“Some places such as high areas or areas at the end of the distribution system would receive their supply three to four hours late,” he said.
Ismail said water rationing will continue until the end of the month, unless the situation improves.
Meanwhile, the scheduled water distribution in Taiping, Perak and its surrounding areas will start on Thursday (April 3).
Ismail said SPAN had approved the application by the Perak Water Board to carry out the programme involving 27,982 accounts following the drop in water level at the Taiping Headworks water treatment plant.
Syarikat Air Johor Holdings Sdn Bhd would also proceed with the scheduled water distribution in Mersing as the water level at the Congok dam was at 4.22 metres, below the critical level of 4.50 metres. He said the schedule would be reimplemented at the Lok Heng and Waha Felda settlements, and other areas in Sedili, Johor.
