Johor seeks to ration water as dam levels drop, Singapore voices

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http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/10...rry-singapore/
Reservoir Drops, rationing in Johor worry Singapore


August 10th, 2015 |
Author: Online
Press



Yhaoo – By By Dan Guen Chin | The Malay Mail Online – 7 Aug 2015

Johor seeks to ration water as dam levels drop, Singapore voices
alarm



JOHOR BARU, Aug 6 — The critical water levels at Sungai Layang and Sungai
Lebam dams have left Syarikat Air Johor (SAJ) little choice but to push for
water rationing in several districts.

The state water concessionaire wrote to the National Water Service Commission
(Span) yesterday to get the commission’s approval to initiate rationing in Pasir
Gudang, Kota Tinggi and Johor Baru.

Even Singapore had expressed concern as water levels at the Linggiu Reservoir
in Johor, which supplies water to the republic, had also receded.

SAJ corporate communications chief Jamaluddin Jamal described yesterday’s
readings as “alarming”.

“The water level at the Sungai Lebam dam is at 9.57m, way below the critical level of 12.27m. The water level at Sungai Layang dam is now 19.19m, also below the critical level of 23.5m,” he said.

“The water levels have been dropping despite the rain. But it’s not enough.
We need prolonged thunderstorms to fill them up.”

He said SAJ had brought the matter to the commission’s attention as the water
rationing would affect close to half a million consumers.

“Only Span has the authority to approve water rationing,” he said.

It was learnt SAJ was seeking to introduce a water rationing scheme which
would see consumers facing water cuts for two days before receiving water the
following day. This is to prolong the usage of water in the two dams.

This comes barely days after water tariff in the state increased. The new
rates, introduced last Saturday, saw water tariff increased by between RM2 and
RM3 per cubic metre for domestic use in excess of 20 cubic metres and 35 cubic
metres per month respectively.

The state government planned to conduct cloud seeding to help the fill the
dams. State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development executive councillor
Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the state government had written to the Department
of

Civil Aviation to seek their approval to conduct the exercise.

“But since it will involve the use of Singapore’s airspace, we also need to
seek Singapore’s permission. I believe they will cooperate. Cloud seeding is the
best option to address the situation.

“But we need ideal weather conditions and the right type of clouds.”

According to Malaysian Meteorological Department, Johor is expected to see
isolated thunderstorm today but that will be followed by a dry spell for the
next three days. The department forecasts isolated rain over coastal areas on
Monday and Tuesday.

The state has 14 dams that supply raw water to be treated for consumption.
The state also supplies water to Malacca.

Water from the reservoir was released into Sungai Johor to prevent saltwater
intrusion from the sea into the river, as salty water cannot be treated by the
water plant further downstream.


This allows Singapore to draw a maximum of 250 million gallons of
water from the river daily, allowed under the 1962 water agreement between
Malaysia and Singapore.
read more… sg.news.yahoo
– Johor seeks to ration water as dam levels drop, Singapore voices
alarm


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