Adib Povera New Straits Times 26 Feb 14;
SELANGOR EXERCISE: 2nd round of water distribution
KUALA LUMPUR: Around one million residents in Selangor are expected to experience water supply disruption because of the implementation of another water distribution that is expected to begin this Sunday.
The exercise is scheduled to be carried out two days after the implementation of the first water distribution plan that will affect more than 60,000 households from 71 areas in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang.
National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Datuk Ismail Kassim, in a statement yesterday, said the second water distribution was approved following discussion with several parties, including the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, the Selangor government, National Security Council, Lembaga Urus Air Selangor and Syarikat Bekalan Air Sdn Bhd (Syabas).
"However, since Syabas needed to make a comprehensive preparation over the matter, SPAN decided that the second round of the water distribution should begin this Sunday.
"The implementation of the second phase should be carried out thoroughly and carefully since there will be more people and areas affected by the disruption .
"The water supply system involved in this exercise will be complex, more labour intensive and require more water tankers, static water tanks and a service centre."
He said Syabas was set to explain the complete details about the second distribution plan by Friday since it was required to issue a notice to affected consumers before the exercise.
He said the water reserve at the Sungai Selangor and Klang Gates dams had dropped to an alarming level of 48.94 per cent and 54.10 per cent.
At press time, the water reserve at the Sungai Selangor Dam was at 112.67 million cubic metres while the Klang Gates Dam recorded 13.72 million cubic metres.
The other five dams in Selangor recorded more than 70 per cent of water reserve.
"The Sungai Selangor Dam is one of two that supply raw water to treatments plants in Sungai Selangor Phase 1 (SSP1), SSP2, SSP3, Rasa and Rantau Panjang.
"The five plants discharge 2,900 million litres per day, which cater to 60 per cent of consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
"Meanwhile, the Klang Gates Dam channels raw water to plants in Bukit Nenas and Wangsa Maju, which can generate 130 million and 45 million litres of treated water daily.."
Ismail, however, did not elaborate on the exact number of households that would be affected by the second round of water distribution.
The situation is expected to mirror that in August 2012, when the closure of four water treatment plants in the state affected more than a million consumers statewide.
Syabas corporate communications and public affairs department assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred said the company would issue a statement today.
However, she was unable to furnish details on how many people would be affected by the second exercise.
Cloud seeding ops to begin
The Star 26 Feb 14;
PETALING JAYA: Cloud seeding operations are expected to take place today over water catchment areas serving water treatment plants in four states which have not seen rain over the past one month.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) senior meteorologist Azhar Ishak confirmed yesterday that cloud seeding was likely to be conducted over catchment areas of dams in Selangor, Johor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan today and tomorrow.
“We can confirm that the operations will commence with forecasts showing the appearance of the towering cumulus clouds which are suitable for the seeding operations,” he said yesterday.
In the tropics, cloud seeding is an attempt to induce rain by dispersing substances into the air that serve as points where condensation can occur.
When asked about the chances of the success of the operations, Azhar said it would depend on weather conditions nearer to the seeding time.
“There is the wind factor coupled with prevailing atmospheric conditions,” he said, adding that if successful, rain should fall within 10 to 15 minutes from the time of seeding.
Azhar said that up to this point, it had not rained over dam catchment areas, though there was isolated rain in other areas.
“Ultimately, success is also dependent on whether rain will fall within the targeted catchment areas after the seeding exercise,” said Azhar, who revealed that the Royal Malaysian Air Force would take charge of seeding operations in the Klang Valley by using material that has been proven to be safe.
In this case, ordinary salt would be used to seed the clouds.
Cloud seeding operations in Malaysia have recorded success rates of between 57% and 65% since 1974.
Johor also plans to introduce cloud seeding over the next two weeks to increase the water level at the Sembrong Timur Dam which serves residents in the Kluang district.
The state meteorological department and the Johor Water Management Authority will be tasked with handling seeding operations in the state.
According to MMD’s website, cloud seeding was carried out in the past over Malacca’s Durian Tunggal catchment area, as well as Selangor’s Langat, Klang Gates, Semenyih and Sungai Tinggi catchment areas.
17 days of dry taps
HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, LOH FOON FONG, RAZAK AHMAD, NEVILLE SPYKERMAN, SARBAN SINGH, NELSON BENJAMIN, DESIREE TRESA GASPER, G. SURACH, NOEL FOO, JULIA KHAW, AND AUDREY LYE
The Star 26 Feb 14;
BALAKONG: It is Day 17 of dry taps and the prolonged drought in the country is taking its toll, especially on tempers and the health of the people in this area.
They are frustrated and angry at the predicament they find themselves in. And with good reason.
Many have to carry water in buckets, plastic bottles and all sorts of other containers over distances, and for some, these precious supplies must be lugged up flights of stairs.
Mohd Isa Hamzah, 33, a resident at Taman Impian Ehsan, said he had fallen ill from all the times he had to gather water from public pipes and other filling points, and then heave the containers to his third-floor apartment.
“I have fever and body aches that started a few days ago,” he said. He has a wife and two young children.
Even the car that he used to transport the water containers was starting to give trouble.
“I need to change the shock absorbers, the weight of the containers has been too much,” he said, adding that he needed to fetch water at least three to four times a day.
He was also suffering from insufficient rest, he said, because the water tankers sent by Syabas made their rounds at irregular times and mostly in the wee hours.
Norlaila Mohd Nor, a 42-year-old kuih seller, said the situation had been very difficult for her and her disabled husband.
Aside from having to put food on the table, she has to fetch water for her family’s needs.
“I have to do everything. This is frustrating and I can’t even find time to make kuih to sell. How am I going to cope?” she said.
She stopped her business about two weeks ago.
Nor Kastini Mat Yusof, a 28-year-old babysitter, is upset that the crisis has gone on for weeks.
She is also unhappy that the water tankers are irregular in their visits.
“They come at odd hours and if we miss them, things get really difficult for us,” she complained.
Nurse Haridah Said, 56, said the crisis had stopped her from attending her Quran classes, which she usually goes for three times a week.
“I need to fetch water for my family and can only do that after I get home from work, so I am unable to attend the classes.
“My family and I no longer bathe twice a day and this is causing uneasiness. We are so tired. How long more must we cope?” she asked.
In Taman Bukit Anggerik, Cheras, the water disruption has been so severe that the majority of hawker centres there have temporarily closed.
Resident K.L. Ng said that even the most popular hawker centre along Jalan 34/154 had stopped operating.
“Normally, it is so packed that getting a seat for breakfast, lunch or dinner is difficult,” he said.
Only one hawker centre and a few other eateries continue to operate and these rely on water transported from other areas. The water from the tankers is not enough for these businesses.
Ng and some other residents said they were concerned over the cleanliness of the supplies used by these places. So they travel long distances, to where there are no water cuts, to eat or order takeaway meals.
“Some even brave the heavy traffic into the city centre to have their meals,” he added.
Other businesses that have been hit in Taman Bukit Anggerik are laundromats, hair salons and car wash operations.
