RM4mil water transfer project

JOHOR BARU: The state government hopes to increase water levels in two of its dams through a RM4mil water transfer project.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the project would help to add about 30 million litres of water per day (MLD) for both the Sg Layang and Sg Lebam dams. The dams are in the red due to falling water levels in recent months.

“This project funded by the state government will be carried out by Syarikat Air Johor and initial construction works has started and we hope that the water transfer will start in December,” he said, adding that for the Lebam dam, water would be taken from Sg Papan and would involve laying about 15.3km of pipes.

This will add some 10 to 15 MLD for the Lebam dam daily.

“As for the Sg Layang dam, we will be laying 5km of pipes to channel 15 MLD from Sg Tiram.”

Khaled said the project would help increase the water levels at both the dams, which were supplying treated water to Johor Baru and Pasir Gudang.

“The state government understands the inconvenience suffered since the water scheduling exercise started,” he said, hoping that the project would help end the scheduled water supply for residents in Taman Johor Jaya, Damansara Aliff, Tebrau industrial estates and Mount Austin light Industrial area.

Khaled said the state government was constantly looking for solutions to restore the water levels at both the dams.

“We believe that the water transfer will help lengthen the lifespan of the dams too.

“We have also been carrying out cloud seeding operations since Oct 12,” he added, adding that so far the rainfall in the area has yet to show positive results in increasing the dams water levels.

The level at the Sungai Layang dam in Pasir Gudang, which supplies water to about 580,000 consumers, is now at 19.55m. The critical level is 23.5m.

The level at the Sg Lebam in Kota Tinggi, which provides water to 53,000 consumers, is at 8.56m, while the critical level is 12.27m. This has led to the scheduled water supply being extended for a third month up to Nov 16.