Syabas prepared for possibility of water rationing

The treated water supply situation in the Klang Valley is becoming more acute following the hot and dry weather and the El Nino phenomenon currently experienced by the nation.

In this regard, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) is in a state of preparedness to help consumers face the possibility of water rationing in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya if the hot weather and El Nino phenomenon persisted.

Syabas, in a statement Thursday said, based on the current situation, the level of the existing treated water supply reserve was under the one percent level and would become negative when the demand peaked and could often cause supply disruption and low pressure.

"The El Nino phenomenon causes long droughts and shortages of raw water supply in river and dams, and simultaneously production of treated water would be lessened.

"If this situation takes place, consumers will face the possibility of water supply rationing, the same as the ones the Selangor state government and National Water Services Commission (SPAN) were forced to implement in 1998 and last year," said Syabas.

In the same statement, Syabas explained that, currently, based on the capacity of the main pipeline system, the capacity of distributable treated water fixed by SPAN to be distributed by Syabas to consumers is at the average rate of 4,686 million litres a day (JLH), whilst the rate of output of treated water from all the 34 water treatment plants under normal circumstances under the four operating companies for August is 4,716 JLH.