Malaysia: Beris Dam in Kedah at critical level

The Star 18 Apr 16;

ALOR SETAR: The water capacity at Beris Dam, Kedah is now at the critical level and can only last for 30 days.

As for the Muda dam, it has reached the alert level and can last for 50 days.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the water level at two other dams, namely Pedu and Ahning, was still high at 68.9% and 75.4% respectively and considered safe.

As such, he said, the state government had no plan to carry out water rationing at the moment as there was still enough water supply for domestic consumption as well as for agriculture purposes.

“There is no need yet for water rationing in Kedah but we advise the public not to waste water as we are afraid that in the long run, we may face the same (water) problem, like what has happened in other states,” he told a press conference after presenting aid to 150 recipients from Kampung Tok Batin here yesterday.

On the situation in Langkawi, which gets 50% of its water supply from Perlis, Ahmad Bashah said Perlis had yet to ration its water supply to Langkawi.

However, Ahmad Bashah said he had asked hotels in Langkawi to control and minimise their water usage.

“For rural areas with low water pressure, we have asked Syarikat Air Darul Aman to supply water to the affected residents,” he added. — Bernama

Folks save water in Johor towns
NABILA AHMAD The Star 18 Apr 16;

JOHOR BARU: A number of residents and businesses in Pasir Gudang have already begun conserving water as they are an­­­xious about a repeat of last year’s scheduled water supply that went on for four months.

Assistant engineer Ainaa Azhar (pic), 23, who works in the Tebrau industrial area, said she had been constantly reminding her colleagues not to waste water, especially during the dry spell.

“It was tough for us last year when there was a limited supply of water from August to Decem­ber.

“We were given water supply only two times a week, where a truck would supply water to our office,” she said.

A resident staying in Taman Rinting, Nur Anis Maressa, 25, has started storing water in containers in anticipation of a repeat of last year’s experience, when her residential area was affected and taps went dry for a certain period.

“We had to store water in a large water contai­ner.

“We are doing it now in case there is no water,” she said, adding that so far she has not faced any water shortages.

Johor Public Com­plaints Centre supervisor Syed Othman Syed Abdullah said no complaints had been received so far “but I am urging people to start saving water as a precaution in case of water rationing”.

SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd corp­orate com­munications head Jamaluddin Jamil said they would try their best to not implement scheduled water supply or water rationing, despite the fact that storage at the Sungai Layang dam had dropped to a critical level.

“The water level in the dam is currently at 19.90m. The critical mark is 23.50m.

“We are monitoring the dam. Water rationing is the last resort,” he said.

He noted that the Sungai Layang dam supplies water to 580,000 consumers, mostly industrial users, in Pasir Gudang and Masai, and several parts of Johor Baru.


Teo: Banggi water situation not as bad as portrayed
MUGUNTAN VANAR The Star 17 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: The state government is monitoring the drought situation in northern Banggi Island but said it is not as bad as being portrayed in social media.

Sabah Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang said water production that was shut down a week ago restarted on Sunday following two days of rain, but the people will continue to receive their supply from the mainland.

He said since the closure of the water plant, the Kudat district office had been sending 40,000 litres of treated water to the island twice daily.

"The people can collect water at a temporary water station near Karakit jetty.

The Kudat district natural disaster management committee will immediately set up several more water stations at strategic locations for the villagers, especially those who do not have their own transport," said Teo during his visit to the island with State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman and Banggi assemblyman Datuk Mijul Unaini.

"We went to several villages and talked to the people and community leaders. We found that despite the dry spell at the island due to El Nino, villagers are carrying out their daily activities as usual.

"It is not that as bad as portrayed by social media," he said, adding that the Banggi water treatment plant is now producing 300,000 litres of water a day and with more rain expected, it should be able to meet the two million litres per day needed by the villagers.

The water department was forced to close the plant after the catchment area dried up about a week ago.

"Though the piped water distribution network covers more than half of the Banggi population, well water and gravity water is still quite commonly used," Teo said.

"In some villages, almost every house has its own well, though the water level is lower then usual," he added.