SHAH ALAM, 28 Aug: The State Government should continue to implement mitigation efforts to increase the water supply capacity at dams, especially the Sungai Selangor Dam, to protect against shortage of the raw material.
The Assemblywoman for Kuala Kubu Bharu, Lee Kee Hiong, said that continuous efforts are necessary to overcome shortages as the records for the dam shows a significant decline.
She said that the reading of 31.84 percent on August 23 for the Sungai Selangor Dam has raised concern because the dam supplies 60 percent of the water needs in the Klang Valley.
“It is the lowest reading in history. We hope that this will continue to increase so that no water rationing will take place in Selangor for the second time,” she told Selangor Kini.
In the report by the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), through http://www.luas.gov.my/, an increase in the water supply capacity has been recorded for the Sungai Selangor Dam, 1.16 percent to 33 percent, yesterday.
Unsure whether the increase is a result of mitigation measures or natural factors, Kee Hiong however advised the public to continue prudence in the use of water by prioritising essential needs.
“We also hope for frequent rain so that the water supply will increase so that it can last until this October (expected changes in the Northeast Monsoon),” she said.
Previously, the Executive Councillor in charge of Youth and Sports, Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, said that water supply mitigation measures implemented by the State Government, starting August 1, has shown results by increasing the water supply at several dams in Selangor, especially the Sungai Selangor Dam.
“The State Government, through LUAS, in collaboration with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), has begun cloud seeding operations at a frequency of twice per day, using sodium chloride solution, at the catchment area of the Sungai Selangor Dam.
“Based on records, the amount on rainfall at the dam from August 1 to 13 is 181.65 millimetres (mm). This amount is higher compared to 69.52 mm received in June and 73.05 mm in July,” he said.
He said that other mitigation measures include a reduction in the rate of water release at the Sungai Selangor Dam to 700 million litres per day (MLD) and the Sungai Tinggi Dam to 500 MLD.
NS
