KUALA LUMPUR: RATIONING needs to be carried out in areas where the water level in a dam is less than 50 per cent due to the hot and dry season, which is expected to last until May.
Water and Energy Research Association of Malaysia (Awer) president S. Piarapakaran said this was to ensure that the raw water supply would last longer.
“The move is to manage the excessive use of water because in the event of rationing, consumers will reduce their water use,” he told Bernama.
Malaysia is expected to experience the dry season until May with Johor, Negri Sembilan, P erak, Kedah, P ahang and Kelantan recording less than the a verage annual rainfall of 25 per cent in April and May.
Three dams recorded a capacity storage of around 50 per cent: Muda dam in Kedah at 58.97 per cent; and the Machap and Sembrong dams in Johor at 55.61 per cent and 54.07 per cent, respectively.
Piarapakaran said planning needed to be made before water rationing was implemented, such as providing at least a two-week notice to consumers to avoid panic use.
On whether it was necessary for the government to announce a water emergency and subsequently enforce Section 56 of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA), Piarapakaran said he did not see any need for it as the situation was under control.
“If the raw water margin reaches 40 per cent, maybe it (emergency) can be considered. We have never had a water emergenc y.”
WSIA is a emergency power in relation to the use of water resources provided to the water, land and natural resources minister.
Section 56 empowers the minister to prevent the use of water in general or for certain uses, limiting the use and discharge of water at any given time, and imposing additional charges for usage exceeding the prescribed limits.