Malaysia: Enough water supply at Mada dams for agriculture, domestic use

EMBUN MAJID New Straits Times 14 Jul 16;

ALOR STAR: Water supply at three dams under the management of the Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) is sufficient to cater for agriculture and domestic usage.

Its chairman Datuk Othman Aziz said the water level at the Pedu and Muda dams meant for agriculture usage are at 33 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, while water level at the Ahning dam, solely for domestic usage, stands at 63 per cent.

"The water supply from Pedu and Ahning is sufficient to last for this planting season.

If the need arises, we will discuss with the possibility of cloud seeding with the Meteorological Department.

“Although the percentage of both the Pedu and Muda dams are less than 50 per cent, it is enough to last for two months," he told newsmen when met after hosting the Mada Hari Raya open house at its headquarters here today.

Othman, who is also the Deputy Finance Minister, said raw water from the Beris dam was solely for domestic use and is being channelled to treatment facilities in the state.

On another note, Othman said Mada has proposed the setting up of a small water treatment facility within the Mada area and to make use of raw water from Mada canals.

He said this would help to solve any water shortage issues for at least 20,000 to 30,000 families.

"Water at the Mada canal, if is not in use, will only flow to the sea. We should make use of it to solve the water shortage issue," he said.