AUGUST 4 — Up until a few days ago, many of us especially in Selangor seem to have forgotten about a misery most of us felt, not too long ago.
We had disregarded what it was like not to shower before heading to work, how it felt pushing a trolley filled with buckets of water in the escalator of our apartment buildings and we have even forgotten how much money was spent buying bottled water for drinking.
Yes, it was barely a few months ago that our patience was tested after we were forced to endure two long months of water rationing.
On Thursday, the water level at Sungai Selangor stood at 33.46 per cent. On Saturday, the level receded further to 33.27 per cent.
During the rationing period in March, the water level at the dam, which supplies water to more than 60 per cent of the Klang Valley population, stood at 37 per cent.
On Friday, Malay Mail quoted Klang MP Charles Santiago as saying if it does not rain in the catchment areas in the next two weeks, we will be staring at “the mother of all water rationing”.
Santiago had claimed both the state government and Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) had been “incompetent” in handling the matter despite early signs that reserves were depleting.
But both the state government and LUAS claimed otherwise.
It is an irony that while LUAS had in the past said a water emergency would be declared if the water level in the state fell below 30 per cent, they now say we have enough water supply until November.
The same body had only on Thursday described the water level at Sungai Selangor as “critical” following a Malay Mail query.
However, it now says the release of raw water at Sungai Selangor and Sungai Tinggi dams has been “optimised” to 700 million litres and 500 million litres per day respectively and there is no need for any water rationing exercise.
Its director Khairi Selamat also said alternative water sources from ponds would be increased to 800 million litres next week.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, meanwhile, said there would not be any rationing as cloud seeding activities had been successful in increasing the amount of raw water at the dams.
But facts and figures do not lie.
The water level has receded tremendously compared to the 70 per cent level earlier this year.
The El Nino phenomenon which is expected to go on until the end of September will not make things easier as rain is only expected in November.
It is also baffling to hear Khalid continue to say that cloud seeding activities have been showing results.
Cloud seeding activities were also carried out in March at the catchment areas and while it was projected there would be a 30 per cent increase in the water level, it only went up by five per cent.
Surely, there must be alternative water supply sources rather than relying on mining ponds which are also running dry.
Sources familiar with the situation say it is surprising the state government had not considered sourcing for water from Sungai Bernam which is nearer to Sungai Selangor rather than looking at water sources from Pahang.
Water from Sungai Bernam should be considered as an alternative source of supply. Yet, it appears no one has considered the possibility of transferring water from this river to Sungai Selangor, an expert said.
Those living in Sabak Bernam were not affected during the last round of water rationing and the area is also not densely populated and it wouldn’t cost much to install a pipeline from Sungai Bernam to Sungai Selangor, the expert added.
It is evident there is no concrete plan to address the problem and those in power continue to harp on the same methods which were talked about since April, which have not yielded much results.
The truth is the situation will get worse now that people have returned to the Klang Valley after the Hari Raya break. It is also very unfortunate that the water issue in the state has been politicised for several years.
While some may find it “comforting” to be re-assured by the authorities we will not be facing another round of water rationing, the reality is the situation is not all hunky-dory.
It is baffling that water regulator National Water Services Commission (SPAN), an independent body which reports directly to the federal government, is keeping mum over the fiasco.
SPAN had claimed it had not been notified about the need for another round of water rationing in the state.
But experts predict Sungai Selangor to dry up in less than a week if it doesn’t rain anytime soon and by then, a water emergency would be called.
Although his future as the “CEO” of the state is uncertain due to the resistance he is facing within his party, Khalid should not take a populist stand by merely telling people that everything is hunky-dory.
Khalid had on Friday given the assurance water tariff in the Klang Valley will not be raised for the next three to four years.
While such an announcement is welcomed, Khalid should enlighten the people about the state’s contingency plans on the water issue in the next three to four weeks.
In June, more than 700,000 households in five districts in the Klang Valley were left with dry taps due to unscheduled water disruption as a result of low supply of treated water from several treatment plants in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
The people need to be told the truth and Khalid must rise above politics when the subject matter in question affects 1.9 million consumers.
There is also an immediate need to enforce a no-hose policy so people are aware of the needs to conserve water as many appear to be in the dark over the matter.
Information should be made public so people will not be wasting water, which as claimed by experts, will run out at Sungai Selangor in a matter of days.
It’s time we stopped kidding ourselves.
*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
