SHAH ALAM, Feb 25 — Following weeks of hot weather — and depleting water reserves — the Selangor government is now forced to initiate water rationing throughout the state to help areas which have been facing water disruptions since last month.

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (pic) said yesterday the exercise would be done in stages to ensure all areas would receive adequate water supply every two days.

The rationing will see millions of consumers in the state receive two days of water supply followed by two days of dry taps to enable water to be conserved in the dams over the next two months.

“We promise that every consumer will receive water but it will be rationed to ensure supply every two days. Consumers will receive water for four days in a week,” he said.

Khalid said water rationing would be carried out until the state government felt the need to discontinue the exercise “when the rainy season begins, most probably at the end of next month”.

If rain falls earlier, the state government would then provide updates and would come up with the next course of action.

He said the state would be divided into two zones for the purpose of water rationing.

However, details on water scheduling and the list of affected areas are only expected to be announced by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) today.

The hot spell and lack of rainfall have left more than 110,087 households or 84 areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya facing water disruptions since last month.

The affected areas include parts of Puchong, Cheras, Kuala Langat, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn and areas surrounding Damansara.

The ammonia contamination at the Cheras Batu 11 and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants has also caused water cuts to more than 27,000 households in Hulu Langat and Kuala Langat since Jan 28.

The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has given the green light to carry out water rationing in the country starting today.

In a statement, it said the state government, who is responsible for controlling water resources in the state, agreed to carry out an emergency plan which included water scheduling to those affected by water disruptions.

“A meeting was held between the state government, Syabas and SPAN last Friday to discuss an emergency plan and the approvals were granted for water rationing,” the statement read.