85,000 in Johor to start water rationing on Monday

KANGAR/JOHOR BARU — Water rationing has begun in parts of Malaysia as a prolonged heatwave dries up dams and rivers across several states.

About 13,000 residents in northern Perlis have have stopped receiving water from their taps on Saturday (April 16) and turned to receiving their clean water from lorry tankers instead.

From Monday, some 85,000 residents and industrial users in Johor’s Kota Tinggi and Mersing districts will have their water supply curtained, according to The Star newspaper.

Johor’s state water utility company, SAJ Holdings, was quoted saying that the decision was prompted by the low water levels recorded at four water treatment plants in the two districts. The water level at the Sungai Gembut plant in Kota Tinggi, for instance, has fallen from the 1m mark to the 0.04m mark currently. Water levels in several dams in the two districts are also close to approaching their critical marks.

The Linggiu Reservoir in Johor has also seen its water levels fall to a new historic low, from about 80 per cent in 2015 to 36.9 per cent last week. The reservoir helps meet half of Singapore’s water needs.

“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,” The Star cited a statement from SAJ Holdings as saying.

During the water rationing exercise in Johor, supply for residents in Kota Tinggi and Mersing will run as usual for one day but with the taps completely dry for the two days after that. The water rationing measure will be lifted on May 15, though regular supply could resume earlier if the water levels at the dams and treatment plants improve, the water utility company said.

Meanwhile, residents in several parts of Perlis have stopped receiving water from their taps since Saturday. They are receiving clean water from lorry tankers instead. Some resident are getting their water from static tanks placed at several strategic locations in affected villages, Perlis Chief Minister Azlan Man was quoted by Bernama as saying.

The exercise will be lifted when the rain returns, Mr Azlan added. Residents in unaffected parts of the state can still receive regular water supply, but with lower pressure.

On Wednesday, Malaysia’s National Water Services Commission (Span) had raised the alarm for five states, namely Pahang, Kedah, Perak, Selangor and Johor, following the reports of low water levels at their respective water treatment plants.