Johor starts month-long water rationing on Aug 16

Filepix of Sungai Lebam dam in Kota Tinggi taken in February showing water levels going down

JOHOR BARU: SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd will start scheduled water rationing to 641,495 domestic and industrial consumers in three districts from Aug 16 to Sept 15.

The one-month exercise is implemented following the water levels at the Sungai Layang dam in Masai, Pasir Gudang and Sungai Lebam dam in Kota Tinggi had reached critical levels.

"The main objective of the exercise is to ensure that we are able to sustain the water level at the two dams from dropping further," SAJ corporate communications head Jamaluddin Jamil said in a press statement here released on Friday.

The Sungai Layang dam supplies water to 575,000 users in Pasir Gudang and Masai mostly industrial users and parts of Johor Baru.

The Sungai Lebam dam channels water to about 66,495 users in Mukim Tanjung Surat, Mukim Pantai Timur and parts of Kota Tinggi.

Jamaluddin said the water level at the Sungai Layang dam had dropped to 19.10m (critical level) from 23.50m, and Sungai Lebam dam from 14m to 9.63m.

"The present dry spell is causing the water levels in Sungai Johor and Sungai Layang to fall, the two rivers act like the feeders for the two dams," said Jamaluddin.

He said although heavy rains were recorded in several parts of southern Johor in the last few days, they did not help to fill the two dams.

Jamaluddin said the scheduled water rationing would be stopped if the water levels at the two dams return to the normal readings.

Affected consumers are advised to use water wisely and avoid wastage in view of the current situation at the two dams.

For more information please contact SAJ Info Center at  1 800 88 7474 or SMS at 019-772 7474 or e-mail at 
customer.care.saj.com.my.