Selangor in the dark over water crisis

The Pakatan-led state government doesn't understand the difference between raw water storage and treated water reservoirs, says water NGO.

PETALING JAYA: Water Association of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (SWan) rapped the Pakatan-led Selangor government for being oblivious to the impending severe water crisis.

SWan vice president, Aldric Loong Kim Yew said that water providing company Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) records indicated that the current prolonged hot and dry weather in Klang Valley had contributed to zero reserve capacity.

“The average water demand in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya has risen to 4,329 million litres per day (MLD) but the maximum operating and distributable capacity of the water treatment plants including Sungai Labu water treatment plant is 4,371 MLD.

“However the Selangor government is oblivious and claimed that all the dams are full and the consumers will not face any water shortages,” said Loong in a press statement.

Loong said this in response to Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim’s statement that Selangor would not face water shortage if Syabas can reduce water loss.

“It is because the management of the treatment plants is not correct. That is why we asked (accounting firms) Halcrow and Atkins to check on this,” he told reporters after launching the state-level World Museum Day,” Khalid was quoted as saying by the press.

Khalid also said that Putrajaya cannot interfere in Shah Alam’s decisions on water management issues in Selangor since the Water Services Industries Act prohibits federal government from encroaching into state jurisdiction.

“If they keep questioning the actions of the state government based on political reasons, we will just wait until the results of the next election,” he warned.

Dams and reservoirs
Loong in response said that the Selangor state government was ignorant of the dire situation.

“Selangor government is referring to the seven dams in Selangor which act to store raw water during rainy seasons.

“Syabas is referring to reservoirs of treated water and Selangor does not have the expertise to take over and operate water supply services,” he said.

Loong added the water crisis is further exacerbated by the state administration’s refusal to implement projects recommended by Syabas to overcome the problem.

“The measures proposed are not implemented due to freeze on capital expenditure by the state government pending proposed restructuring exercise of the water industry,” he said.