Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) today said it will again take up the issue of water rationing with the National Water Services Commission (Span) following requests from local residents to do so.

NONE "It seems that voices are strong that many want us to carry out water rationing so that everyone can take turns and share the burden," chief operations officer Lee Miang Koi (right) told a public briefing at Balakong today.

"It appears this is the decision. I will convey this to Span."

He was responding to various complaints from residents who claimed that worst hit areas such as Bukit Belimbing had no water for three months.

"Why not shut down Putrajaya's water, what it wrong with that? Or shut down water from Cheras Jaya or Seri Timah in the morning so that we can get some water.

"If it's for half a day I can accept, but for the whole day, I cannot accept," said local resident Mohd Zali Abdul Kahdir.

Another resident S Mani said: "Just give us water, control it so everyone can share. Don't make it such that some places have water while others have none at all. You can't expect me to go someone else's house when I need to go to the toilet."

Sungai Labu solution

However, Lee said the situation in Balakong has somewhat been relieved as Syabas had recently connected new pipes to its latest Sungai Labu treatment plant which began operation in March this year.

"Previously, parts of Kuala Langat and Sepang were supplied from the Semenyih plant.

"But they will now be supplied with extra water from Sungai Labu plant. This can save water at the Semenyih plant which can then be diverted to here, through new piping connected by Syabas.

"The process has taken about 10 days and in the last three to four days, the water has arrived here in Hulu Langat and we can see the situation in Balakong has somewhat been relieved," he said.

The Sungai Labu plant has a production capacity of 105 million litres per day (MLD) and had been operating at 45MLD until last week where it was increased to 70MLD with the connection of new piping.

It will be increased to its stipulated capacity after more connection works in October and June next year, said Lee.

azlan This, he explained, was the reason why the water situation had improved in Balakong and was not a deliberate attempt by Syabas to turn off the tap and turn it back on after taking heat from the public.

He also shot down the Selangor government's claim that the shortage was due to unrepaired pumps at Putra Budiman reservoir, adding that it had been abandoned since 2009 after it was damaged in a flood and a new reservoir had replaced it.

"We are still maintaining some water at Putra Budiman to prevent cracks to the storage complex but even if you fix the pumps the water there cannot be used," he said.

Rationing plan

However he added that despite the Sungai Labu solution, Balakong is situated at the edge of the pipelines and the diverted water would still reach other areas first and may fall short when it gets to Balakong, adding that the solution may only last a few months or up to a year.

"The water supply will be shared by everyone along the way because it goes through a long journey... If we can divert a large part of water here, then the majority of people here will get water for the next few months and rationing may not be necessary.

"But we have to monitor the situation and we should be able to judge in one to two weeks. The additional water will relieve the situation here but to what extent?

"Whether it will solve part of the problem or a substantial part of the problem (is left to be seen)," he said.

Asked if Syabas would still recommend water rationing to Span following this solution, Lee replied: "The plan is a long term plan. Its concept and policy on how we want to implement it must be ready, so that once it is necessary, we can implement.

"It may not be necessary today or tomorrow, but we must get it ready."

According to the rationing plan, water supply would be shut off at certain intervals in nearby areas to divert water to worst-hit areas, essentially sharing the water problem, instead of a particular area facing zero water supply for an extended period of time.

The meeting between Span and Syabas will take place on Thursday.

VIDEO | 3.54 mins

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