An unusually long dry season has led the Negri Sembilan government to declare water crisis in the state, with taps running dry in several thousand households.

The Star Online quoted Mentri Besar Mohamad Hasan as saying that the state's Natural Disaster Operations Room has been activated after several water catchment areas in the state dried up.

“We have not had any rain here over the past two months and this has caused water levels at our seven dams to reach critical levels.

“In fact, we have also been unable to draw water from Sg Batang Benar and Sg Ulu Muar, which provide raw water to the Talang, Kelinchi and Sg Terip dams as both have dried up," Mohamad said, adding that up to 8,000 households have been affected.

Among the affected areas are Sendayan, Rasah, Mambau and the state capital, Seremban.

Mohamad ( right ) noted that the authorities have drawn up to 13 million litres of raw water from Sg Batang Benar, and another 45 million litres from Sg Ulu Muar. Both water catchment areas were used to supply consumers in Seremban alone.

About 200,000 households in the state consume some 340 million litres of water daily, The Star reported.

The state's seven dams are Sungai Terip, Kelinchi, Talang, Sungai Beringin, Gemencheh, Ulu Sepri, and including a newly completed Triang dam.

A week ago, Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan officials were reported in the News Straits Times as saying that the low water levels at its dams were not a major concern since the Triang dam - which can supply 114 million litres of water per day - was due to start operating before the end of February.