KARAK, May 22 — The Pahang-Selangor Raw Water pipeline can start sending water to Selangor by the end of August if the Selangor state government fast-tracks an extension that will link the main pipeline to the Langat river, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus J. Ongkili said today.

The Energy, Water and Green Technology Minister said the main pipeline is expected to be ready for testing after the contractor finishes clean-up work by July 30.

Once operational, the Pahang-Selangor Raw Water pipeline can send 500 million litres of water per day to Selangor over the interim period until the Langat 2 water treatment plant is completed in 2017.

Once operational, the pipeline can send 500 million litres per day to Selangor over the interim period until the Langat 2 water treatment plant is completed in 2017.

"We will need a 1.5km extension from the tunnel end. Once we activate the joint-committee on Langat 2 next month, hopefully we can get approval because this needs to be fast-tracked," he said at a press conference after a site visit.

Maximus said the federal government had anticipated the need for the pipeline extension and has approved RM5 million for the project.

He stressed that it is vital for work on the extension to start as soon as possible as it would take between two and three months to complete.

"If they (Selangor) want us to help, we are ready to help, we already have the RM5 million ready to tap water at the end of the tunnel and channel it to the Langat river," he said.

Maximus, however, warned that residents in Selangor and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will still need to reduce water consumption even if the pipeline starts operations, as it will be limited to just the Langat river until the completion of the Langat 2 plant.

"It will help in a way to minimise the impact of El Nino, but we still need to practice reducing and saving on water usage because the Langat river only services three water treatment plants," he said.

The El Nino phenomenon is expected to cause a lengthy dry spell.

"That accounts for only 10 per cent of the over 30 water treatment plants across Selangor," he said.

Meteorologists have forecasted that El Nino will hit the country from June to September, as Selangor continues to grapple with dwindling water reserves.

A special cabinet committee, chaired by deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, has since been set up to monitor everything from weather changes to public health and agriculture over the expected dry spell.

Apart from the Malaysian Meteorological Department’s forecast, he said the World Meteorology Organisation predicted that the El Nino phenomenon could persist from six to 18 months, endangering water supply.