Kuala lumpur: 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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) reported that two dams-Jus Dam in Melaka and Labong Dam in Johor-were at the alert level. Meanwhile, nine dams were at the warning level, and one, the Sungai Pagar Dam in Labuan, was at the critical level. The 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.
The statement from SPAN highlighted that Timah Tasoh Dam, which had remained at the critical level for an extended period, has recently improved to the warning level due to some rainfall and the pumping of water from the pond into the dam. This intervention helped increase its water storage volume. Despite this improvement, SPAN noted that all monitored WTPs were still operating normally, but the risk of water supply disruptions could arise if dam levels continued to decline over time.
SPAN also disclosed that the commission, along with the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA) and all relevant water supply operators, convened a meeting on August 26. The meeting aimed to assess the raw water situation and coordinate preparedness and mitigation measures, particularly for dams at alert, warning, and critical levels. The measures under consideration include optimizing the use of raw water resources, coordinating dam and WTP operations, activating alternative water sources, 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, SPAN may consider restrictions or reductions in water supply to consumers as a demand management measure, subject to current needs or circumstances and with the minister's approval in accordance with applicable legal provisions. These measures will only be considered when other mitigation and resource management strategies are no longer sufficient to extend the resilience period of raw water resources.
SPAN emphasized that all mitigation measures would be implemented in a targeted manner based on the conditions and level of risk in each area. The agency 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.