Klang Valley water reserve below crucial level

The minimum water reserve capacity currently stands at one percent when the crucial level required to sustain the population during a water crisis is at 10 percent according to SPAN.

KUALA LUMPUR: Water reserve capacity in Klang Valley is below the minimum set by National Water Services Commission (SPAN).

According to the Deputy Minister Energy, Green Technology and Water Mahadzir Khalid, SPAN has set a minimum water reserve capacity of 10 percent, however, the capacity now stood at only one percent.

The minimum 10 percent was required to cater to the basic needs of the people, in the event Klang Valley is hit by a water crisis.

Mahadzir, who is also the Padang Terap MP, was responding to questions raised by Titiwangsa MP Johari Abdul Ghani on the frequent water cut in his constituency.

“There are only 34 water treatment plants catering to the Klang Valley population, which the usage is estimated at 250 million liter a day,” he said.

He added that the water source for Klang Valley were Sungai Selangor, Sungai Semenyih and Sungai Langat.

Johari also raised the issue that water supply was quick to be restored at luxury housing areas after a water cut while the supply to the low-cost areas were resumed at snail pace.

In response to the questions, Mahadzir stressed the need for the Langat 2 project to be approved and completed as soon as possible to stem the water crisis.

“While awaiting for the project to take off, the ministry would look into possibility of overloading the water capacity in the existing water plants and embark on the necessary steps to monitor and swiftly tackle any water crisis, Mahdzir said.