ID :
60017
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 16:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60017
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIAN MINISTRY READY TO WEATHER DRY SPELL
By Mohd Faizal Hassan
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology
and Water want water concessionaires to take pro-active measures to weather the
forecasted climate change and dry spell that is expected to persist until
September.
According to the ministry's Undersecretary, Water Services Regulatory
Division, Sutekno Ahmadbelon, the measures were necessary as the Meteorological
Department had issued a warning that the country would experience the South-West
monsoon from mid-May to September which usually brought a dry spell.
The maximum temperature is expected to range from 30.7 degrees Celsius to
34.1 degrees Celsius.
He added that all water concessionaries have been urged to carry out routine
checks on specification of systems maintenance and equipment to ensure effective
and efficient water supply service and distribution to consumers during the
period.
Operations at water catchments areas, reservoirs, dams and water resource
centres must also be monitored periodically to counter the situation, he said.
"If the treatment of water abstracted from watercourses, distribution,
operation and maintenance of the water supply system and distribution to
consumers is carried out smoothly, water concessionaires can weather the dry
spell, which is a usual phenomenon in the country," he told Bernama via e-mail.
Sutekno also advised consumers to be thrifty when using water as the
country's water resources are limited because not all water from rivers and
watercourses can be converted into treated water, due to severe pollution.
Meanwhile, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) Corporate
Communications and Public Relations senior manager, Shahrul Bariah Mohd Rejab,
said to ensure sufficient water supply during the dry spell, water treatment
plants that take raw water from dams to be treated, must enforce a strict
control over water that was released from their treatment plants.
"Failure to emphasise on control of water supply will result in wastage,
especially during the dry spell," said Shahrul.
She said Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, have a number of reservoirs
that retained water to weather dry spells and these reservoirs - Klang Gates,
Langat, Tasik Subang - are managed by Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd.
Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) manages the Sungai Selangor
and Sungai Tinggi reservoirs while Abass which comes under Kumpulan Perangsang
Selangor Berhad, manages the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant.
Shahrul said based on the water capacity and increasing population in
Selangor, a dry spell which would result in reduced water resources may have a
very serious effect.
She added that Syabas would continue to emphasise on promoting awareness
campaigns to educate the public on the importance of being prudent when using
water.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology
and Water want water concessionaires to take pro-active measures to weather the
forecasted climate change and dry spell that is expected to persist until
September.
According to the ministry's Undersecretary, Water Services Regulatory
Division, Sutekno Ahmadbelon, the measures were necessary as the Meteorological
Department had issued a warning that the country would experience the South-West
monsoon from mid-May to September which usually brought a dry spell.
The maximum temperature is expected to range from 30.7 degrees Celsius to
34.1 degrees Celsius.
He added that all water concessionaries have been urged to carry out routine
checks on specification of systems maintenance and equipment to ensure effective
and efficient water supply service and distribution to consumers during the
period.
Operations at water catchments areas, reservoirs, dams and water resource
centres must also be monitored periodically to counter the situation, he said.
"If the treatment of water abstracted from watercourses, distribution,
operation and maintenance of the water supply system and distribution to
consumers is carried out smoothly, water concessionaires can weather the dry
spell, which is a usual phenomenon in the country," he told Bernama via e-mail.
Sutekno also advised consumers to be thrifty when using water as the
country's water resources are limited because not all water from rivers and
watercourses can be converted into treated water, due to severe pollution.
Meanwhile, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) Corporate
Communications and Public Relations senior manager, Shahrul Bariah Mohd Rejab,
said to ensure sufficient water supply during the dry spell, water treatment
plants that take raw water from dams to be treated, must enforce a strict
control over water that was released from their treatment plants.
"Failure to emphasise on control of water supply will result in wastage,
especially during the dry spell," said Shahrul.
She said Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, have a number of reservoirs
that retained water to weather dry spells and these reservoirs - Klang Gates,
Langat, Tasik Subang - are managed by Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd.
Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) manages the Sungai Selangor
and Sungai Tinggi reservoirs while Abass which comes under Kumpulan Perangsang
Selangor Berhad, manages the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant.
Shahrul said based on the water capacity and increasing population in
Selangor, a dry spell which would result in reduced water resources may have a
very serious effect.
She added that Syabas would continue to emphasise on promoting awareness
campaigns to educate the public on the importance of being prudent when using
water.
-- BERNAMA
