KUALA LUMPUR: The Sungai Selangor dam, which is a source of raw water for 60 per cent of the Klang Valley and Putrajaya, stood at a precarious level of 32.74 per cent yesterday, just shy of the 30 per cent critical mark.
This is believed to be its lowest ever mark after the dam, which supplies water to 1.9 million users in Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Petaling, Shah Alam and Klang, had recorded a 36.74 per cent level in March this year. This is also well below the 55 per cent minimum level.
Water reserves at other dams in the state, however, showed healthier figures. Checks at the Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (Luas) website yesterday showed that other dams, namely at Semenyih and Batu, were at 75.9 per cent and 82.3 per cent, respectively.
There has yet to be any indication that the Selangor government will introduce another round of water rationing, as it did in February.
National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) officials told the New Straits Times that, as of yesterday, they had yet to be informed of any rationing plans.
SPAN corporate communication director Carol Pelly said there had been no developments yet on the issue.
Syabas corporate communications and public affairs general manager Priscilla Alfred, meanwhile, said should water rationing be implemented, the company would conduct the necessary preparations, including readying water tankers.
“However, Syabas has not been informed of anything so far. I am not allowed to say anything more,” she said in a text message.
On Aug 1, NST had quoted Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as saying that there were no plans for another round of water rationing.
The state had undergone a rationing exercise between Feb 27 and April 30 this year, after water levels at its dams plummeted.
In Shah Alam, Selangor police have set up a task force to investigate allegations of sabotage involving six water pumps at the Hang Tuah ponds in Bestari Jaya near here last Friday.
Selangor CID chief Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah told Bernama police had received two reports on the incidents and were scrutinising details for further action.
“We are trying to determine if the alleged sabotage was carried out by individuals or groups,” he said yesterday.
Last Saturday, state Youth and Sports, Infrastructure and Public Utilities Committee chairman Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, in a statement, said six water pumps at the Hang Tuah ponds were sabotaged by irresponsible parties and asked the authorities to take stern action.
According to him, the sabotage occurred twice at the ponds. However, it did not affect treated water supply to consumers.
In Kota Baru, about 1,500 residents in the two villages of Kampung Pulau Panjang and Kampung Pauh, Pengkalan Chepa claimed they have been without water supply for the past month.
A resident, in his 50s, said complaints had been made to Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd but the utility had only sent its water tankers to the affected areas yesterday.
Residents, who had been surviving on water from wells and gathered from rain, claimed that the water pressure had been low before their taps completely dried up last month.