As water levels in dams located in the Klang Valley and Selangor continue to drop, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry is initiating cloud seeding exercises to avert a state-wide water crisis.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said cloud seeding exercise will be carried out in water catchment areas this week to prevent a water crisis in the Klang Valley.
“It has been almost a week since my last visit to the dams, yet there’s still no rain,” he said, adding that the reserves could fall to critical levels if the hot weather continues.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) confirmed that the water reserves at the Sungai Selangor and Klang Gates dams were at 53 per cent and 56 per cent respectively as of February 18.
“The water levels at both dams have decreased compared to the reserves recorded on Thursday,” Syabas communications and public affairs deputy general manager Priscilla Alfred said.
“We have seen a five per cent decrease of reserve at the Sungai Selangor dam and a one per cent decrease at Klang Gates within five days.”
Mahdzir cautioned that the water reserve level at the Sungai Selangor dam could fall to between 40 and 45 per cent if there is no rainfall in its catchment area for the next 20 days.
The Cheras Batu 11 and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants have remained closed since January 28. The ammonia pollution levels in Sungai Langat was currently at 4.15ppm. The acceptable level of ammonia in rivers should be less than 1.5ppm.
On Monday, Selangor state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong said the state government was taking necessary steps to deal with the water crisis.
“The Selangor government has held a multi-agency meeting on this issue and had written to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) last week,” she said.
Wong said the Meteorological Department’s cloud seeding is suitable to be carried out and has given orders to seed all water catchment areas in the peninsula. The Royal Malaysian Air Force has also been asked to gear up for the exercise.
She said further delays in restarting the two water treatment plants and waiting for rain to dilute the ammonia concentration could cause sanitation problems for the people.
This was due to the Meteorological Department’s forecast that rain would only return in mid-March.
Related: GTA Balakong: Syabas water tankers hijacked; Dry Hard: 2 million people in Klang Valley might get water cuts; Syabas says KL’s water supply is running low. Again.
Photo: Zuraneeza Zulkifli
Source: The Malay Mail Online
