AMPANG JAYA, April 4 — Selangor’s water supply remains stable amid the current hot spell, with levels at the state's seven major dams maintained at around 80 per cent.
State executive councillor for infrastructure Datuk Izham Hashim said this is the result of early measures taken by the administration over the past five years to address drought risks, including ensuring that water supply at dams and Off River Storage (ORS) facilities remains at optimal levels.
“The Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS) is also monitoring rainfall distribution and river water levels. Low river levels can lead to increased ammonia content, raising the risk of water pollution.
“If water levels drop, it can result in higher ammonia levels and pollution. Monitoring is also important to ensure the agricultural sector is not affected during this period of hot weather,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters at the Pandan Indah state constituency’s Aidilfitri open house at the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) Hall last night.
At the same time, Izham urged the public to reduce outdoor activities and drink more water to avoid the risk of heatstroke amid rising temperatures.
He said the state government is also considering cloud seeding as an additional measure to address the El Nino phenomenon, subject to current needs.
“Besides cloud seeding, we also have other options, including utilising 185 retention ponds that still have sufficient water capacity.
“If necessary, we will use water from these ponds to raise levels or dilute concentrated river water to reduce ammonia levels,” he said.
Previously, the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said the ongoing hot weather is expected to persist until the onset of the Southwest Monsoon in June, due to drier atmospheric conditions and lower rainfall.
Its deputy director-general (Operations), Ambun Dindang, said Malaysia is currently in the final phase of the Northeast Monsoon, which is typically marked by reduced rainfall and hotter, drier conditions, particularly in northern and inland areas of Peninsular Malaysia.
