If the weather does not improve in the next three weeks, the Malaysian government might have to declare a water emergency.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said: “If it does not rain this three weeks, then I think the National Security Council, which is studying the whole situation, will have to declare a water emergency.”
He said water levels in catchment areas had decreased mainly due to the prolonged drought.
“We are all praying for rain. If it does not, it is going to be really bad,” he said yesterday.
The Sungai Selangor Dam, the state’s largest reservoir which serves more than 60 per cent of the 7.1 million people in the Klang Valley and Selangor, recorded a 40.53 per cent capacity as of 8am yesterday.
The Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) said the dam was 40.99 per cent capacity on Wednesday, just 24 hours earlier.
This is consistent with the Selangor state government’s statement in early February that water in the dam was decreasing at a rate of 0.4 per cent per day due to the drought lasting several weeks and the lack of rain in water catchment areas.
The levels at the other dams were 51.44% (at Klang Gates) 90.72% (Batu), 61.53% (Langat), 77.49% (Semenyih), 71.22% (Sungai Tinggi) and 91.63% (Tasik Subang).
Sources had reportedly said water levels at dams would be deemed critical if they were below 40%.
However, LUAS director Md Khairi Selamat disagreed, saying the critical level was 30%.
Selangot is undergoing phase three of water rationing exercises, which currently affects 722, 032 households comprising about 3.6 million people, according to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
Under phase three of the plan, users receive water supply every two days in “sheduled distribution”.
Story: The Star Online
