The spate of rain in the Klang Valley over the past weekend has certainly cheered up people in the city, but it hasn’t done all that much to fill up the dams supplying water to the area.
According to the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), the Sungai Selangor Dam, which caters to about 60 per cent of the Klang Valley and Selangor stood at 39.12 per cent of its capacity as of 8am today.
Last Wedndesday, it recorded a capacity of 40.99 per cent.
Water levels at dams are deemed critical if they fall below 40%.
The Klang Valley’s other dams did not record much increase to their levels as well: Batu (90.55%), Langat (58.54%), Semenyih (75.3%), Sg Tinggi (70.53%), Tasik Subang (90.01%), Kolam Takungan Sg Labu (78.26%) and Klang Gates (51.3%).
According to Forum Air Malaysia senior executive Foon Weng Lian, heavy rain in certain areas do not necessarily mean the replenishment of dams.
“That is normal. It might be raining heavily in Petaling Jaya but this water will flow into the drain and eventually into the sea. This is called the downstream area.
“In order to replenish the dams, it has to rain near the dams or the upstream area.”
The authorities have implemented water-rationing measures for the whole of March to combat the low water levels.
Selangor and certain parts of Kuala Lumpur are going through a third phase of this measure, which is estimated to affect 722,032 households or about 3.6 million people.
They get their supply every two days under the “scheduled distribution” exercise.
However, many consumers have complained that the schedule is not adhered to and that there are times they only receive water supply for one day before it is turned off.
Story: The Star Online
