PETALING JAYA, Feb 13 ― Dams in the Klang Valley are running low on water following the dry spell that has hit the nation.

A spokesperson from Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) confirmed the water reserves were at a critical level. The increase of water demand in recent weeks had also contributed to the situation.

“Our reserve margin is critical as it is below one per cent. The comfortable level is between  10 and 20 per cent,” the spokesperson said.

Dams managed by Syabas are Sungai Selangor Dalam, Sungai Tinggi, Semenyih, Sungai Langat, Klang Gates, Subang and Sungai Batu Dalam.

The lack of rainfall has failed to flush out the high levels of ammonia at the Bukit Tampoi and Cheras Batu 11 water treatment plants managed by the Selangor Water Management Authority Consumers have been urged to use water sparingly and be prepared for water disruptions. If the spell carries on, the  dams will start to dry up fast.

In Seremban, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the lack of rain had caused water levels at seven dams to reach critical levels.

He said the state has decided to seek the assistance of the National Security Council and the Meteorological Department to carry our cloud seeding to prevent the possibility of a water crisis in the state.

The water level at the Durian Tunggal Dam in Malacca has also dropped but Syarikat Bekalan Air Melaka said it was still far from the critical level.  

Perak exco member Datuk Zainol Padzi Paharuddin has assured that the water supply in the state has not been affected.

“The state’s water supply is normal, except for a slight drop at the Air Kuning dam in Taiping,” he said.

If the need arises, water will be pumped in from the water treatment plant in  Bukit Merah.

According to him, standby water tanks have been placed in Taiping as a contingency plan.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said 15 areas in peninsular Malaysia had not experienced rainfall for more than 20 consecutive days, as of Monday.

Malacca, Chuping and Kluang have remained dry for the past 32 days, while no rain has been recorded in Langkawi and Butterworth for 31 and 30 days, respectively.