KOTA TINGGI: The water level at the Sungai Lebam Dam, near here, has dropped to almost two metres below the critical point.
The dam normally enjoys an effective capacity of 14m – but the water level currently stands at just 10.9m, much lower than the 12.7m critical point, Bernama reported.
As such, residents in and around Kota Tinggi have been urged to use water sparingly until the current dry spell ends.
“The dam currently has enough water to supply residents for about 70 days.
“(The Johor government hopes there will be no problems) as there are about 100,000 residents in (Kota Tinggi, including) areas like Pengerang, Teluk Ramunia, Air Tawar and Tanjung Balau,” said Johor International Trade, Investment and Utilities Committee chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse.
He added that the water level at another major dam in the area – the Lok Heng Dam – has dipped to just 50cm above its critical level.
“The water supply can only last 21 days.
“If the water level continues to decline, it will affect about 20,000 residents. But, we have a backup plan – (we) will dig three tube wells in the area near the dam,” Puah added.