Malaysia: Water rationing in Kota Tinggi, Mersing from April 18 to May 15

ZAZALI MUSA The Star 14 Apr 16;

JOHOR BARU: SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd will start scheduled water rationing to 85,000 domestic and industrial consumers in the Kota Tinggi and Mersing districts starting from April 18 until May 15.

During the exercise, water supply will run normally for one day in the affected areas while there will be no water supply for the next two days.

The exercise is implemented after the water levels at the four water treatment plants in the two districts had reached the critical levels.

The water treatment plants are in Lok Heng and Sungai Gembut in Kota Tinggi and Sungai Mersing and Tenglu in Mersing.

“The rationing is the best measure to ensure we will be able to supply water to users in the affected areas,’’ it said in a press statement released here on Thursday.

According to the statement, the water level at Sungai Sedili Kecil which supplied water to the Lok Heng treatment plant had dropped to 1.58m almost reaching the critical level of 1.50m.

The water level at Sungai Gembut which channels water to the Sungai Gembut treatment plant had reached the 0.04m from the 1m mark.

On the other hand, the water level at the Sungai Mersing and Tenglu treatment plants is dropping at the rate of 0.03m daily and the situation is alarming.

The affected areas in Kota Tinggi are Felda Bukit Waha, Felda Bukit Easter, Felda Simpang Waha, Felda Lok Heng Barat, Felda Lok Heng Timur, Felda Lok Heng Selatan and Bukit Tentera.

Others are Felda Bukit Aping Timur, Felda Bukit Aping Barat, Bandar Sri Perani, Gembut Cina, PPRT Kampung Sayang, Pekan Tanjung Sedili, Kampung Tuan Seh, Taman Tuan Seh, Sedili Kecil, Kampung Belukar Durian, Telok Mahkota, Kampung Sri Gading Laut & Dalam, Kampung Sri Paya, Kampung Mawai Baru, Kampung Mawai Lama, Jalan Mersinbg, PPRT Mawai, Ladang Sungai Mong and Jalan Mawai.

Kampung Gembut, Kampung Singapura, Kampung Sentosa, Kampung Teluk Jeri Luar & Dalam, Taman Sedili, Legaran Air Gemuruh, Kampung Sayang, Sedili Besar, Kampung Telok, Kampung Perepat, Kampungh Semayong, Kampung Nelayan and Kampung Teluk Nyireh.

In Mersing the affected areas are from KM0.5 to KM14 Jalan Mersing-Endau, Taman Pantai Timor, Taman Samudera, Taman Sri Bayu, Kampung Sungai Muka Dua, Kampung Air Merah, Taman Air Merah, Taman Guru, Taman Sutera Indah, Estate Kuala Mayang, Jalan Hassan, Taman Emas, Kampung Sawah Dato, Kampung Sri Lalang, Kampung Silapu, Taman Intan, Pusat Desa Bina Diri, Felcra Bukit Pedoman, Kampung Tenglu KM6 to KM14, Taman Lautan Biru, Kampung Makam, Kampung Tenglu Besar, Jalan Sekolah, Jalan Dato’ Onn and Jalan Abdullah.

Other are from KM0.5 to KM12 Jalan Mersing-Jemaluang, Mersin town, Hotel Sri Malaysia, Jalan Ismail, Jalan Panchor, Jalan Abu Bakar, Jalan Sultanah, Kuarters Kastam, Air Putih, Mersing Kecil, Jalan Mahkota, Jalan Bukit, Jalan Padang, Taman Sri Mersing, Taman Nakhoda, Taman Wawasan, Kampung Sri Pantai, Taman Pantai, Kampung Bukit Jaya, Kampung Paya Tingal, Taman Haji Hashim, Kampung Gajah Mati and Pekan Jemaluang.

Affected consumers are advised to use water wisely and avoid wastage in view of the current water supply situation at the two districts.

For more information please contact SAJ Info Centre at 1 800 88 7474 or SMS at 019-772 7474 or e-mail at customer.care.saj.com.my


Almost 85,000 people in Kota Tinggi and Mersing to face water rationing from Monday
Ahmad Fairuz Othman New Straits Times 14 Apr 16;

JOHOR BARU: Almost 85,000 people in Kota Tinggi and Mersing districts will face water supply rationing beginning next Monday until May 15.

State water utility, SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd said in a statement that the decision followed the low water levels recorded at four water treatment plants in the two districts.

The water treatment plants obtained raw water from a dam and rivers that have seen their water levels depleting in the current hot weather.

A total of 84,935 users are involved in the water rationing exercise.

Based on SAJ's water supply schedule, affected consumers will receive water supply for a 24-hour period once every three days.

SAJ Holdings said the water levels in Sungai Sedili Kecil, Kota Tinggi, which supplies raw water to the Lok Heng water treatment plant dropped to 1.58m compared to its 1.50m critical level.

This required SAJ to conduct water rationing in Felda Bukit Waha, Felda Bukit Easter, Felda Simpang Waha, Kuari Waha, Felda Lok Heng Barat, Felda Lok Heng Timur, Felda Lok Heng Selatan and Bukit Tentera starting Monday (April 18) until May 15.

The water levels at Sungai Gembut, which supplies raw water to the Sungai Gembut water treatment plant, Kota Tinggi stood at 0.04m against the 1m minimum mark. In Mersing district, SAJ Holdings said the water levels in Sungai Mersing, which supplies raw water to the Sungai Mersing water treatment plant was at 12.22m and approaching its 11.7m critical mark.

The water level at the Congok dam, which supplies water to the Tenglu water treatment plant showed a reading of 4.52m which approached its 4.5m critical level. "The water level at the Sungai Mersing and Tenglu treatment plants are dropping at a rate of 0.03m daily and the situation is alarming," said the statement.

"The scheduling will cease if the levels at the dam and treatment plants improve," it said.

In Kota Tinggi, the other areas affected by the water rationing are Felda Bukit Aping Timur, Felda Bukit Aping Barat, Bandar Sri Perani, Gembut Cina, PPRT Kampung Sayang, Pekan Tanjung Sedili, Kampung Tuan Seh, Taman Tuan Seh, Sedili Kecil, Kampung Belukar Durian, Telok Mahkota, Kampung Sri Gading Laut, Kampung Sri Gading Dalam, Kampung Sri Paya, Kampung Mawai Baru, Kampung Mawai Lama, Jalan Mersing, PPRT Mawai, Ladang Sungai Mong and Jalan Mawai.

Also affected are Kampung Gembut, Kampung Singapura, Kampung Sentosa, Kampung Teluk Jeri Luar/ Dalam, Taman Sedili, Legaran Air Gemuruh, Kampung Sayang, Sedili Besar, Kampung Telok, Kampung Perepat, Kampung Semayong, Kampung Nelayan and Kampung Teluk Nyireh.

In Mersing, the affected areas are from KM0.5 to KM14 Jalan Mersing-Endau, Taman Pantai Timor, Taman Samudera, Taman Sri Bayu, Kampung Sungai Muka Dua, Kampung Air Merah, Taman Air Merah, Taman Guru, Taman Sutera Indah, Estate Kuala Mayang, Jalan Hassan, Taman Emas, Kampung Sawah Dato, Kampung Sri Lalang, Kampung Silapu, Taman Intan, Pusat Desa Bina Diri, Felcra Bukit Pedoman, Kampung Tenglu KM6 to KM14, Taman Lautan Biru, Kampung Makam, Kampung Tenglu Besar, Jalan Sekolah, Jalan Dato Onn and Jalan Abdullah.

Other areas are from KM0.5 to KM12 Jalan Mersing-Jemaluang, Mersing town, Hotel Sri Malaysia, Jalan Ismail, Jalan Panchor, Jalan Abu Bakar, Jalan Sultanah, Kuarters Kastam, Air Putih, Mersing Kecil, Jalan Mahkota, Jalan Bukit, Jalan Padang, Taman Sri Mersing, Taman Nakhoda, Taman Wawasan, Kampung Sri Pantai, Taman Pantai, Kampung Bukit Jaya, Kampung Paya Tingal, Taman Haji Hashim, Kampung Gajah Mati and Pekan Jemaluang.

Consumers are urged to contact SAJ Info Centre at 1-800-88-7474 or send a text message to 019-772 7474 or e-mail to customer.care.saj.com.my, or to log on to its website at www.saj.com.my.


Water rationing for Johor districts starts on Monday
The Star 16 Apr 16;

JOHOR BARU: Scheduled water rationing for 85,000 domestic and industrial consumers in the Kota Tinggi and Mersing districts will be implemented from April 18 until May 15.

This is due to the four water treatment plants in the two districts having reached critical levels.

The water treatment plants are situated in Lok Heng and Sungai Gembut in Kota Tinggi, and Sungai Mersing and Tenglu in Mersing.

“This is the best measure to ensure we will be able to supply water to users in the affected areas,” SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd said in a press statement.

During the exercise, water supply will run normally for one day in the affected areas, while there will be no water supply for the next two days.

The affected areas in Kota Tinggi are Felda Bukit Waha, Felda Bukit Easter, Felda Simpang Waha, Felda Lok Heng Barat, Felda Lok Heng Timur, Felda Lok Heng Selatan and Bukit Tentera.

Others are Felda Bukit Aping Timur, Felda Bukit Aping Barat, Bandar Sri Perani, Gembut Cina, PPRT Kampung Sayang, Pekan Tanjung Sedili, Kampung Tuan Seh, Taman Tuan Seh, Sedili Kecil, Kampung Belukar Durian, Telok Mahkota, Kampung Sri Gading Laut & Dalam, Kampung Sri Paya, Kampung Mawai Baru, Kampung Mawai Lama, Jalan Mersinbg, PPRT Mawai, Ladang Sungai Mong and Jalan Mawai.

Kampung Gembut, Kampung Singapura, Kampung Sentosa, Kampung Teluk Jeri Luar & Dalam, Taman Sedili, Legaran Air Gemuruh, Kampung Sayang, Sedili Besar, Kampung Telok, Kampung Perepat, Kampung Semayong, Kampung Nelayan and Kampung Teluk Nyireh.

In Mersing, the affected areas are from KM0.5 to KM14 Jalan Mersing-Endau, Taman Pantai Timor, Taman Samudera, Taman Sri Bayu, Kampung Sungai Muka Dua, Kampung Air Merah and Taman Air Merah.

Others are Taman Guru, Taman Sutera Indah, Estate Kuala Mayang, Jalan Hassan, Taman Emas and Kampung Sawah Dato.

Contact SAJ Info Centre at 1 800 88 7474, SMS 019-772 7474 or e-mail customer.care@saj.com.my for details.


Hot spell affecting supply
NABILA AHMAD The Star 15 Apr 16;

JOHOR BARU: The current hot and dry spell has contributed to the rise in the price of some vegetables and also a shortage of quail.

Sellers claimed that the hot spell had affected their supplies with many saying that farms were experiencing water shortages.

A check by Star Metro at four wet markets here in Kipmart, Larkin, Taman Johor Jaya and Tebrau showed that the prices of cucumber, long beans and spinach has shown the most increase, between 18% and 43%.

A trader at Larkin market, G. Muthusamy, 56, said that the price of cucumbers had risen by 33.3% from RM1.50 to RM2 per kg.

“The price of cucumbers has continued to increase since last month and my supplier from Kulai told me that the farm was dry because of the hot weather,” he said.

Another trader in Taman Johor Jaya market who wanted to be known only as Ella, 50, said the prices of long beans had gone up by 43% since last month, from RM3.50 to RM5 per kg.

“I have been a vegetable trader for so many years and usually, during the hot weather season, the prices of vegetables will always be changing,” she said.

Trader Azaraai Ismail, 60, said there was also an increase in the price of spinach by 18.42%, from RM3.80 to RM4.50 per kg.

“It is common for the prices of vegetables to rise during the hot weather,” he said.

Meanwhile, there have been no changes to other vegetable prices such as red and green chillies (at RM7 per kg), cauliflower (RM7 per kg) and ladies fingers (RM6.90 per kg).

The price of chicken remained at RM7.50 per kg.

A meat trader who wanted to be known only as Mamat, 37, from Larkin said that there has been a shortage of quail from his supplier in Pontian.

He said the dry and hot weather had affected the breeding of the birds.

“It has been a week since this problem had started and my supplier has not been able to tell me when supply will resume,” he added.

However, quail meat was available at the Johor Jaya market but the supply was limited.


Lim: Water crisis in Penang if no rain for two more months
The Star 15 Apr 16;

GEORGE TOWN: The state’s dams are getting drier by the hour due to El Nino.

About 5pm yesterday, the dam levels’ LED display in Teluk Bahang showed that it was 62% full, while the Air Itam Dam was 64%.

But by 6.30pm, however, Penang Water Authority’s website (www.pba.com.my) showed that Air Itam Dam had slipped to 59.9% and Teluk Bahang was down to 61.5%.

Mengkuang Dam is nearly full, but it is being upgraded by the Federal Government, so its water level was not available.

“If the rains do not come soon, Penang is heading for a water crisis in two months,” said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Adding that Perlis and Kedah could face the crisis within a month, Lim called on the Federal Govern­ment to do large scale cloud seeding in the northern region.

“It is now being done on an ad hoc basis. That is not enough,” he added.

When the inter-monsoon season began early this month, he said the rainfall was the lowest in history.

“That was the Qing Ming (Chinese All Souls Day) season and it usually rains, except for this year.”

According to infokemarau.water.gov.my, Perlis’ Timah Tasoh Dam level is at 26.71m, 1.4m above critical level. Lim said in a press conference yesterday that Beris Dam in Sik, Kedah, was also low.

A check on the website, however, showed that this dam had been taken offline, so its information was not available on the Internet.

Kedah’s larger dams in Pedu and Muda, however, remained high at 72% and 93% respectively.

Since Beris Dam regulates the flow of water in the Muda River Basin, he expressed fears that the river would be affected if Beris Dam dips to critical levels.

Penang draws about 90% of its daily water needs from this river.

“We are talking about a crisis which could affect more than four million people,” added Lim.

However, he stopped short of saying if there would be any water rationing in Penang.