BEN TAN AND KALAVAANI KARUPIAH New Straits Times 18 Mar 14;
PARCHED NO MORE: Dams and rivers nationwide record slightly higher water levels, say officials
KUALA LUMPUR: DAMS in Selangor are showing slightly higher water levels as of 8am yesterday. The Drainage and Irrigation Department's Water Resources and Hydrology division director Datuk Hanapi Mohamad Noor said the increase was because of the continuous rain.
"Although it is not a large increase, we are positive the water crisis will be resolved by the end of this month, as we are expecting more rain.
"Most of the 23 rivers and 21 dams nationwide have recorded a small improvement in their water levels," Hanapi told the New Straits Times yesterday.
He said as long as more than 200mm of rainfall was recorded, damns could supply enough water and ease the water shortage.
As of yesterday, the water levels at the Klang Gates dam was at 89.58m, Sungai Selangor (191.40m), Langat dam (213.56m), Sungai Tinggi dam (54.38m), Tasik Subang (37.82m), Batu (99.74m), Sg Labu dam (39.20m) and Semenyih dam (106.72m). The dry spell caused water levels at 20 dams and 21 rivers nationwide to dip between 0.3 and 1m since Feb 14.
The Malaysian Metrological Department (MMD) Commercial and Corporate Services director Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said rain over the last three days occurred naturally and was not due to cloud seeding.
"We did carry out cloud seeding last Saturday, focusing mainly in Selangor, but the next morning it began raining all over the country," said Hisham, adding that the department would continue cloud seeding in Selangor.
He said the department had also forecast a spell of heavy rain from March 21 onwards that was expected to continue into next month, with between 200mm and 300mm of rain expected.
Despite the encouraging rainfall, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) would continue water rationing until it receives a directive from the state government.
The dry spell has affected more than 60,000 people in 71 areas in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang.
In Johor Baru, the state may see normal water levels in all eight dams following heavy rains over the past two days.
It could also see an end to water rationing in certain areas in Kluang, Mersing, Sedili and Bukit Batu once the dams' water levels reach a comfortable level.
State water company, SAJ Holdings (SAJ), was confident the next few days would see increased water levels at the dams.
Its corporate communications head, Jamaluddin Jamil, said it took time for the water intakes and feeders to supply water to the dams.
"As of today (yesterday) there are positive signs the levels will see an increase." he said, adding that SAJ Holdings hoped the two critical-level dams, Congok in Mersing and Machap in Simpang Renggam, would register an increase in their water levels soon.
"The state's water situation is still manageable, but water rationing will continue in the affected areas until further notice."
In Seremban, the water level in Sungai Muar in Negri Sembilan was flowing at near normal level again, thanks to heavy showers, which started on Saturday and ended the state's three month drought.
Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (SAINS) general manager Zulkifli Ibrahim said the downpour brought enough rain to raise the water level of Sungai Muar, which had reportedly dried up.
Six water treatment plants (WTP) are connected to the river.
"We believe that with constant downpours in days to come, we can ensure production of water from Sungai Muar is chanelled to consumers in the state," he said yesterday.
The six water treatment plants connected to Sungai Muar are Kuala Pilah WTP, Kuala Jelai WTP and Jambul Lapan WTP in Bahau, Jempol WTP, Pasir Besar WTP in Port Dickson and Gemas WTP in Tampin.
Zulkifli said with the rise in the water level of Sungai Muar, water rationing was not necessary in Tampin.
"We are hoping that there will be persistent rain so that the water level in other the rivers in the state will rise." Additional reporting by Mastura Yusoff and Maizatul Ranai
Water levels still low in dams
kathleen ann kili The Star 18 Mar 14;
JOHOR BARU: Despite rain over the past two days, the water level at eight dams in Johor is still insufficient for the state to call off a scheduled water rationing exercise in Kluang and other districts.
State water concessionaire SAJ Holdings (SAJ) corporate communications chief Jamaluddin Jamil said there was a “slight increase” in the water level at the dams but it was still insignificant.
In fact, he said, the water corporation extended the exercise to some parts of Mersing, Sedili in Kota Tinggi and Bukit Batu in Kulaijaya yesterday.
“If the rain continues in the next few days and the water level rises to normal, then it is possible that the rationing exercise will be called off soon.
“Water supply in Kluang is still scheduled on a two-days on two-days off basis, while other affected areas will receive water on alternate days,” he added.
Jamaluddin said the Sembrong Timur treatment plant in Kluang depended on the Sembrong Kiri river for raw water and not from the dams.
“We will continue monitoring the water level at the eight dams – in Lebam, Congok, Juaseh, Bekok, Labong, Gunung Pulai, Pontian Kechil and Upper Layang,” he said.
For complaints and enquiries, consumers can contact the SAJ Info Centre hotline at 1-800-88-7474 or SMS 019-772-7474.
A breath of fresh air for Klang Valley folk
The Star 18 Mar 14;
KLANG: After weeks of living in smoky surroundings, residents in the Klang Valley are relieved that the level of air pollutants has gone down drastically, thanks to rain over the last two days.
Yesterday, the Air Pollutant Index (API) recorded in most parts of the country were at good and moderate levels.
As at 10am, only 10 areas recorded moderate levels, with its highest reading of 73 recorded in Balok Baru, Kuantan.
The unhealthy API levels in Port Klang saw a reduction yesterday.
However, a check at several pharmacies here showed that face masks were still in high demand.
An employee at a pharmacy here said that her customers wanted to stock up on masks in case the hazy conditions returned.
Selangor executive councillor in charge of the environment Elizabeth Wong had earlier said that the haze situation in the past few weeks was due to transboundary and local sources of pollution.
It was also reported that the Selangor government had issued 12 investigation papers with the intention of prosecuting those involved in open burning on private lots.
Under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, any person who is caught for open burning will be liable to a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both.
Drastic drop in bush and peat fires, thanks to rain
by austin camoens The Star 18 Mar 14;
PETALING JAYA: Bush and peat fires nationwide have dropped drastically, by about 90%, following rain in the last two days.
Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said the department received reports of about only 10% of these fires yesterday compared to the daily average of about 445 this month.
“In the last 17 days, we recorded 7,569 fires nationwide but the number has fallen in the last two days.
“On Sunday, we responded to 286 of fires, while yesterday we only had to deal with 44,” he told The Star.
Wan Mohd Nor said that with more rain expected, bush and peat fires would drop.
“Between 8am on Sunday and 8am yesterday, Sarawak recorded the highest number of bush, peat and open fires with 16, followed by Sabah with 10.
“We responded to nine fires in Johor and five in Selangor, while Kedah, Penang, Perak and Tereng-ganu recorded one fire each,” he said.
Wan Mohd Nor said his men were still combating ongoing fires in Terengganu, Perak, Pahang and Selangor.
On the use of biodegradable chemicals to douse the flames, he said the department needed more mixers to process the chemicals before they could be used on a larger scale.
“We have already used the chemicals to help put out fires in Pekan, Pahang, and Busut Baru in Selangor and it looks promising,” he said.
