Even as Stage 4 of the Water Supply Rationing Plan comes into effect on Friday, there is already talk of formulating a fifth stage to cope with Selangor dams whose water content continue to drop below critical levels.
Insiders say that if the water levels in these dams continue to decrease and there is insufficient rainfall over water catchment areas, rationing could contniue until the end of the year.
“The water supply from the dams is not enough to supply water to more than seven million users in Klang Valley,” said the source.
“Phase five may begin soon and if the condition worsens, there is a possibility rationing could continue till December.”
The source said the Selangor government must come up with a plan to overcome the current water woes.
“The state government should find new water sources to overcome the problem.”
National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Datuk Ismail Kassim had said the fourth stage of water cuts will affect nine districts: Gombak, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langst and Sepang.
“The fourth phase of water rationing will involve an additional 620,237 households making a grand total of 1,340,231 households or 6.7 million people,” he told reporters at SPAN’s headquarters yesterday.
Selangor had earlier this month launched the Hybrid Off River Augmentation System (Horas) project — a storm-water harvesting system and accumulation of groundwater. The first phase, however, would only be completed by July next year while the Horas will be up and running by 2020.
It would reduce the reliance on dam and surface water and would be able to meet demand during prolonged dry seasons.
However, the source said the Horas project should have been carried out years ago as it may take a long time for dams to be filled up due to the present hot season.
“Even though it is raining, it is too hot and rain water falling in catchment areas is evaporating,” the source said.
SPAN said the water level in the Sungai Selangor dam had dropped drastically, unlike previous years.
Meteorological Department deputy director general Alui Bahari said: “The ongoing dry weather happens when there is a climatic change, and there is a change of pattern this year compared to previous years.
“Rainfall has been consistent all these years and we are only seeing a change this year. If we look at the long-term pattern of 30 years, the climatic changes do not vary drastically.”
He said April and October were usually the wettest months of the year with an average monthly rainfall of between 200 and 350mm.
Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) director Md Khairi Selamat said cloud seeding operations will continue in the coming days, as the weather will be conducive for the event to take place.
LUAS is also pumping raw water from underground water and former mines to add to the Sungai Selangor dam.
See Also: 6.7 million people will not have reliable water supply by Friday
Story: The Malay Mail Online
