El Nino: Water Levels At 37 Dams Normal, Nine At Warning Level, One Critical - SPAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Water levels at 37 of the 49 major dams supplying raw water to Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan remain at normal levels as the country faces the El Nino phenomenon.

The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) said two dams - Jus Dam, Melaka and Labong Dam, Johor - were at the alert level, nine at the warning level and one - Sungai Pagar Dam in Labuan - at the critical level.

“Dams at the warning level include Muda Dam and Ahning Dam in Kedah; Upper Layang Dam, Lower Layang Dam, Lebam Dam, Gunung Pulai 1 Dam, Gunung Pulai 2 Dam and Pontian Kechil Dam in Johor, as well as Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis.

“Timah Tasoh Dam, which had previously remained at the critical level for an extended period, has now improved to the warning level following some rainfall and the pumping of water from the pond into the dam, which helped increase its water storage volume,” the commission said in a statement today.

Overall, all monitored water treatment plants (WTP) were still operating normally but the risk of water supply disruptions could arise if dam levels continued to show a downward trend over time, it added.

SPAN also revealed that the commission, together with the Energy Transition and Water Transformation  Ministry (PETRA) and all relevant water supply operators, held a meeting on Aug 26 to assess the raw water situation and coordinate preparedness and mitigation measures, particularly for dams at the alert, warning and critical levels.

The measures being considered are optimising the use of raw water resources, coordinating dam and WTP operations, activating alternative water sources depending on requirements, monitoring water supply demand in high-risk areas, and implementing scheduled water supply if the raw water situation continues to deteriorate.

“In more critical circumstances, restrictions or reductions in water supply to consumers may be considered as a demand management measure, subject to current needs or circumstances and with the minister’s approval in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.

“Such measures will only be considered when other mitigation and resource management measures are no longer sufficient to extend the resilience period of raw water resources,” the commission said.

SPAN said all mitigation measures would be implemented in a targeted manner based on the conditions and level of risk in each area.

It will continue to enhance monitoring and risk assessments based on weather conditions, dam-level trends, the availability of raw water resources and the operational capacity of each WTP.

-- BERNAMA