SHAH ALAM, 11 June: The Selangor Government guarantees to cope with the water problem and stressed that there are no plans to ration the supply in the state despite the El Nino phenomenon that has recently hit Asia.
The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that the Selangor Government has made careful preparations and plans to ensure that the supply of raw water in all major dams are adequate throughout the dry season, which is expected to last up to three months.
He said that the use of water source pools, which is actively being carried out now, is able to provide raw water supply of 800 million litres per day (MLD) to accommodate the production of raw water from Sungai Tinggi and Sungai Selangor.
“The briefing by the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) and the Selangor State Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to the State Executive Council (MMKN) reported that the use of pool water sources will continue by pumping pool water into rivers when the flow is low and to store water when the water flow is high.
“To date, there are 20 pumps placed at nine pools capable of providing 800 MLD of water to accommodate the production of raw water from Sungai Tinggi and Sungai Selangor.
“With this plan, the production of raw water from Sungai Selangor can be minimised to allow the supply of treated water from the Sungai Selangor Plant Phase 1, 2 and 3, to be channelled as usual,” he said during a press conference after chairing the Executive Council meeting today.
Abdul Khalid said that LUAS has also conducted trials for all pumps so that they function well and are ready for use.
He said that the State Government is also trying to increase the existing water resources by using groundwater as an extra effort.
“At the same time, the sampling of pool water quality will be continued at greater regularity to ensure that the raw water is in accordance with standards set by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).
“Based on the latest sampling on May 20, the study found that water from these pools is in accordance with the prescribed standards. However, we are always taking precautions and urge the people to practice water conservation at all times,” he said.
In relation to that, Abdul Khalid said that the Selangor Government, through LUAS, will hold a seminar to ensure that the people are always aware and receive the latest information on the status of alternative water sources on June 18.
He said that this is aimed at providing understanding and information to the public and relevant parties about the current status of water sources in Selangor, including the quality and quantity, as well as the care process.
“We will invite Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK), penghulu, village chiefs and community leaders so that this information can be communicated to people at all levels,” he said.
