The Star 11 Mar 14;
PETALING JAYA: Unhealthy air levels have been recorded in Nilai, Seremban, Banting, Port Klang and Shah Alam.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department reported that the air pollutant index (API) recorded at 3pm yesterday showed the levels in Nilai at 112, Seremban 104, Banting 116, Port Klang 135, Putrajaya 107 and Shah Alam 101.
An API reading of between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and 301 and above hazardous. Unhealthy API levels may lead to chest discomfort, coughs and shortness of breath.
The API readings are calculated based on five major air pollutants: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ground level ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter with a diameter below 10 micrometres (PM10).
Most of these pollutants come from various sources such as industries, motor vehicles, open burning and power generation.
The concentrations of these five pollutants are measured in 52 air quality stations throughout Malaysia, mainly located in industrial and urban areas.
A check with the department also showed that except for isolated rain in coastal areas in Sabah, no rain is expected for the peninsula and Sarawak. It has not rained in the Klang Valley in over a week.
Some residents still using water for non-essential activities
The Star 11 Mar 14;
PETALING JAYA: While Klang Valley residents under Zone 2 began experiencing water rationing in the third phase of the exercise yesterday, others in Zone 1 are not being prudent with their water usage.
Rukun Tetangga SS2B chairman Willie Tan Kim Tun said residents in his area were still seen using water for non-essential activities such as washing cars and watering plants.
“It is not even about reducing wastage any more. We need to cut down usage now,” said Tan, adding that he and other residents in SS2 here began stocking up water even before the area was scheduled to undergo rationing.
Tan said Zone 1 residents should not take advantage of the fact that their rationing was only starting tomorrow to continue using water as normal.
The Phase 3 of water rationing in the Klang Valley started yesterday.
Some 3.6 million residents from 290,865 households will experience the standard two days of dry taps followed by two days of supply.
Phase 2, involving two million people from 431,617 households and businesses, started on March 2 while the first phase, affecting 60,185 households, began from Feb 27.
The affected areas include districts in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
Each phase of the exercise, announced by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), was divided into two zones, starting with Zone 2.
Taman Kinrara 1 resident Catherine Lim said her household and a few others in the neighbourhood had carried out their “spring cleaning” and other major cleaning before rationing started.
“Everybody, even the dogs, had a good bath, and we washed all the big items like bedsheets,” said Lim.
Even then, her family had placed water containers in each bathroom, with smaller buckets for toilet use.
Shops selling equipment for outdoor activities have reported high sales of water filters and water purification chemicals.
“Customers have come in asking for water purification equipment. This rationing exercise made them think about the need to get water from alternative sources when there is a shortage,” said V. Veeraksana at a shop in SS15 here.
Cloud seeding resumes tomorrow
New Straits Times 11 Mar 14;
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) will carry out cloud seeding operations tomorrow.
The operation was initially planned to be conducted yesterday. However, it was halted due to the recent search and rescue mission of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which needed a number of military aircraft.
MMD has been granted permission to proceed with cloud seeding by the Royal Malaysian Air Force. MMD commercial and corporate services division director Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said cloud seeding might help clear the haze only if the resulting rain was widespread.
"Our department has located certain states that require the induction of rain such as Johor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Selangor and Kedah."
As of 5pm yesterday, five areas indicated unhealthy air pollutant index readings including Port Klang, which remained as the most affected area at 136, Banting (116), Nilai (111), Putrajaya (107) and Seremban (104).
