Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) has warned that the Selangor government's latest move to cut raw water supply to four water treatment plants will hit some three million consumers.

"The proposal to reduce water supply of up to 500 million litres per day will cause water disruption to 750,000 households (three million users) ...," Syabas executive director (technical development) V Subramaniam told a press conference today.

He said the water concessionaire could not come up with a large-scale contingency plan at such short notice.

The state government's plan to commence rationing today, as announced , also cannot be executed as the National Water Services Commission (Span) has not approved the plan, he said.

Nonetheless, Subramaniam acknowledged the rationing is necessary due to low water levels.

"Based on water levels at the dam, it is necessary, yes," he said, adding that this plan will be discussed with Span this evening.

"The state government has forwarded the plan to Span and it is calling a meeting to discuss the matter with us (and the state government)," he said.

Whether or not the plan will go ahead, he said, depends on Span.

"If it happens, there will be ample notice," he said.

'MB jumped the gun'

He also criticised Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for announcing the plan without informing consumers about the serious consequences.

"The announcement did not take into consideration sensitive areas such as hospitals, dialysis centres, government headquarters, business premises and factories that require attention.

"Syabas was also only given two days by the Selangor government to prepare a scheduled water distribution plan for a large scale of affected areas even though the proposal had yet to receive Span's approval.”

The water rationing will involve premises covered by four water treatment plants, namely Sungai Rasa, Sungai Selangor 1, 2 and 3.

This is on top of a rationing plan for some 60,000 households announced today for premises receiving water from the Bukit Tampoi and Batu 11 treatment plants.

Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang are among areas which receive water from these two plants and some premises have gone without water for almost two weeks.

Subramaniam noted that the Selangor government has finally acknowledged the limits to water supply in the state, after disregarding Syabas’ warnings.

"The menteri besar ...  refused to execute several projects and development suggestions as well as water capacity upgrades proposed by Syabas to ensure continued supply despite the many notices given to him since 2008, warning of a water crisis.

"Instead, (he) ordered Span not to approve capital expenditure for upgrading the water distribution system planned by Syabas including to reduce non revenue water.”

Water rationing for 60,000 households starts Feb 27