Water authorities urged to prepare for eventualities due to prolonged drought

KUCHING: All water supply authorities have been directed to prepare and take necessary actions in accordance with their drought contingency plans.

The Ministry of Public Utilities said the preparations and actions must include getting ready the assets such as lorries/tankers for distribution of water, standby pumps and materials like sandbags to increase the level of river water.

It said necessary preparations and actions were compulsory in view of a possible long drought.

The ministry added that the state was currently experiencing dry spell and based on the Meteorological Department, a moderate El Nino phenomenon was expected to occur between August and March next year, resulting in lesser rainfall than normal especially in the northern areas of the state.

At present, the situation is generally not critical as raw water sources are adequate, except for certain areas such as Simunjan, Melugu, Beladin, Suai and Kuala Balingian.

The public are also advised to use water sparingly during this dry period.

It also said that cloud seeding was not warranted yet, but water supply authorities must closely monitor the level of river water at the intake points.

For areas experiencing water shortage, the water supply authorities would deliver water by lorries or tankers, the statement added.

At a press conference earlier, Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan advised consumers to use water sparingly during the prolonged dry season.

He gave this advice after attending a briefing on this year’s southwest monsoon weather conditions and forecasts at Wisma Sumber Alam in Petra Jaya yesterday.

“A mild El Nino is expected to begin in August and will last until March next year, causing the weather to be dry and a few areas in northern Sarawak to be affected,” he said.

Awang Tengah said that sandbags would serve as barricade to increase the capacity of reserve water in the event that the water reserves ran low.

Delivery of water using tanks to the affected locations, he assured, would remain the highest priority.

On low water pressure in Simunjan, Awang Tengah said his ministry would work hard to solve the problem and upgrade the present system.

“Plans are in place and approval from the state government has been obtained. However, it will require some time to solve,” he said.

Awang Tengah reminded Public Works Department (JKR) to give due attention to the matter so that the people would not have to suffer.

“JKR still needs to send water using lorries to areas in Simunjan as well as to find alternative water source from river to increase the water level in the Simunjan Water Treatment Plant,” he added.

Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester Entri, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Public Utilities Ubaidillah Abdul Latip, state JKR deputy director Danien Rangu, advisor to the Ministry of Public Utilities Sung Siew Eng and Laku Management chief executive officer Wong Tiong Kai were also present at the briefing.- Borneo Post