The Star 23 Apr 14;
PETALING JAYA: Yes, it has been raining. But no, it has not helped raise the water level at the Sungai Selangor dam – the largest in the state and the main supplier in the Klang Valley.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department said unsuitable atmospheric conditions were partly the reason water levels at dams had not increased much despite cloud seeding.
Its atmospheric science and cloud-seeding division director Azhar Ishak said the department would continue to conduct cloud seeding in water catchment areas until the dams were at safe levels.
Explaining some of the problems the department faced, Azhar said: “We identify the areas for cloud seeding based on our observations but sometimes, by the time we get to these water catchment areas, the atmospheric conditions have changed and may not be suitable.
“When this happens, we go to the areas nearby and conduct the exercise. There has been rain in the water catchment areas, including Sungai Selangor. However, the amount of rainfall there is still insufficient.”
Sungai Selangor supplies water to 60% of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor.
However, the dam has been below 40% for the past few months. The water level is deemed critical if it dips below 30%.
According to the Selangor Water Management Authority website, water level at Sungai Selangor stood at 38.9% as of 8am yesterday.
Azhar admitted the present technology for cloud seeding was “old”.
He said the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia, would carry out research to improve it.
The ministry approved a two-year grant worth RM870,000 last week for the purpose.
As for the Thai “Royal Rainmaking Technology” which the Selangor government is planning to use to help ease the water crisis in the state, Azhar said: “We heard about the proposal but have not receive any instructions yet. Our responsibility at the moment is to ensure the water level in dams increases so we will continue with cloud seeding.”
Insufficient raw water at the dams
The Star 23 Apr 14;
WE wish to respond to the letter “Water companies should be penalised for current woes” (The Star, Mar 22). The writer claimed that the water quality he received was bad and water companies should be penalised for not managing water resources properly and resulting in the disruption of water supply.
We wish to state that Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) is only responsible for the distribution of treated water supplied by the existing water treatment operators to the consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
The four water treatment operators that sell treated water to Syabas are Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd, Konsortium ABASS Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor and Konsortium Air Selangor Bhd.
Thus the quantity of treated water distributed by Syabas is solely dependent on the quantity supplied by these water treatment operators based on their respective concession agreements entered with the Selangor Government.
Currently, the Cheras Mile 11 and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants (WTP) have been frequently forced to close down since Jan 27 this year due to the ammonia content in Sungai Langat frequently breaching the threshold imposed by the Health Ministry (MOH) for safe drinking standard.
This has caused a loss of 56 million litre per day (MLD) treated water supply for several areas in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang.
At the same time, five WTPs namely Sungai Selangor Phase 1, Sungai Selangor Phase 2, Sungai Selangor Phase 3, Rantau Panjang and Sungai Rasa that are depending on the raw water supply from Sungai Selangor with support from Sungai Selangor dam and two WTPs namely Bukit Nenas and Wangsa Maju that are extracting raw water from Klang Gate dam, are forced to reduce treated water production by 1,030 MLD as the Selangor Government had commenced reduction of raw water release from these dams by similar quantity per day in order to prolong the sustainability of the depleting water storage level in the dams.
The raw water resources are under the responsibility of the Selangor Government. The said responsibility under the legislation clearly states that the Selangor Government is responsible to ensure sufficient and sustainable raw water supply in the river, dams and water catchments with the quality of raw water consistent within the treatable level as stipulated by MOH.
The water supply industry in peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territory of Labuan is governed and regulated by Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) and enforced by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), the industry regulator.
The Act is a focused and uniform approach in regulating the water services industry. Policies and decisions pertaining to the industry are also being subjected to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.
With regards to the deteriorating trend of the water storage level in Sungai Selangor and Klang Gates dams, and uncertain ammonia contents in Sungai Langat, the Selangor Government has requested for water rationing in certain areas and this was approved by SPAN.
In this aspect, the water rationing plan was prepared by Syabas on the directive from the Selangor Government. The on-going water rationing is implemented under Stage 1, Stage 3 and Stage 4.
The Stage 1 water rationing in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang is due to the closure of Cheras 11 Mile and Bukit Tampoi WTP.
The Stage 3 and 4 water rationing involves Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor and parts of Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat and Sepang.
The appearance of brownish water when consumers turn on the tap after the water cuts is caused by sediment in the pipe distribution system. The sediment is taken up with the flow of water at the beginning and will disappear after several minutes.
In terms of water quality, the treated water quality parameters are set based on the National Drinking Water Quality Standards enforced by the MOH, and the treated water distributed to the consumers tap is definitely safe for consumption and complies with standards.
Nevertheless, the quality of water at the consumers’ tap especially on colour and odour is also influenced by the internal piping systems including the water tank of the consumers’ premises.
Consumers are strongly advised to check the internal piping systems regularly to ensure it does not affect the quality of water at the premises.
With regards to not paying the water bill as water supply was interrupted, Syabas would like to stress that the water bill is based on the quantity of water consumed.
In the event of water rationing, the consumers may consume less and thus would pay less for their water.
Syabas would like to urge the consumers to extend their cooperation towards the Government’s water rationing plan by conserving water, using water for critical use only and avoiding excessive usage.
The ongoing water rationing was initiated by the Government to ensure sustainability of the depleting raw water level in Sungai Selangor and Klang Gates dams. Water rationing was carried out to ensure consumers continue to receive water supply for their critical needs.
PRISCILLA ALFRED
Assistant General Manager
Corporate Communication & Public Affairs
Syabas Sdn Bhd
State FMM members seek alternative water supply sources
The Star 23 Apr 14;
PETALING JAYA: Industries in Selangor are stepping up efforts to conserve water and seek alternative sources of supply as the state’s water woes show no signs of abating soon.
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers’ (FMM) Selangor branch chairman Datuk Soh Thian Lai said members were already running water conservation projects and seeking alternative sources.
“One of the fastest and most used methods by members is to instal a system to draw water from the ground.
“A company can be set back by between RM450,000 and RM650,000 to get the system running but it is something that must be done,” he said.
Other methods include harvesting rainwater and enlarging existing reserve tanks to hold water to last at least two days.
Companies are also renting tankers to buy supply from Syabas at prices ranging between RM110.35 and RM149.68 per tanker, inclusive of the RM100 quality testing fee for each vehicle.
Soh disagreed with calls for Syabas to stop providing water in tankers for industrial and commercial users during the rationing period,
He said while domestic consumers were the priority, it did not mean companies should be deprived from buying water.
It was previously reported that a food and beverage company based in Shah Alam required alternative supply of about 120 tankers of water a day at a cost of RM150,000.
If the company does not get the supply, it stands to lose about RM15mil a day in costs and sales as production would be stopped.
Soh said if rationing was extended to industrial areas in the state, it should be one day on and one day off, instead of the two days on, two days off system applicable to domestic users.
