Clean water supply: 2 million residents of Klang Valley and Putrajaya will be affected

Two million residents of Klang Valley and Putrajaya will face problems with water supply if the current heat wave continues for three more weeks.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology, and Water, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the water levels in the Selangor River and the Klang Dam are currently below 60% capacity and will continue to decline if the heat wave continues.

“At this time, the Selangor River Dam only has 57.63% water and the Klang Gate Dam only has 58%. The water levels can decline to 45% if there is no rain in the next 16 days.

“However the current water levels are under control but we need to do something. If the heat wave continues, we might have to start rationing water,” he said at a press conference after visiting the Selangor River Dam, this Thursday.

The Selangor River Dam in Kuala Kubu Bharu can hold 220 cubic meters of water, which fulfills 60% of water needs in the Klang Valley.

Mahdzir said that he has ordered for a meeting to be held between related parties to come up with a plan if the water levels in both dams continue to recede.

He adds that other measures can be taken if the water levels continue to drop to critical levels such as cloud seeding.

“Cloud seeding will be carried out at the Selangor River catchment area and the areas surrounding it if the levels drop to 45% or 103.5 million cubic meters.

He also attributes the reduction of water levels to an increase in water usage in the Klang Valley.

Meanwhile, the water levels in the Kedah, Perlis, and Penang dams are under control even though the heat wave has also affected those three states.

On Wednesday, Syabas corporate communications and public affairs deputy general manager Priscilla Alfred said that the period between January and April was expected to be very hot.

“ The hot weather or drought is normal around January and April. The water levels in a few dams and rivers will continue to drop.

“This usally happens during the dry season. We would advise users to use water prudently,” he said.

The Malaysian Meteorological Society yesterday confirmed that the temperature in Peninsular Malaysia is increasing from 35 degree Celsius last week to 36 degree Celsius this week.