SELANGOR has activated comprehensive preparedness measures to safeguard the state’s water supply as the southwest monsoon phase brings drier weather.
With the dry spell expected to last until September, state public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said authorities were monitoring a potential El Nino phenomenon that could strain water resources.
"As of July 7, the capacity of all seven dams in Selangor is good and exceeds the 75% level, with the estimated lifespan of the overall capacity of these dams being around three to six months," she said in a statement.
The status of these dams can be viewed on the Integrated Water Resources Management System website at iwrims.luas.gov.my.
Jamaliah assured that water levels were expected to remain stable through controlled water releases by Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) and Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd.
This will be done alongside operating alternative water source ponds to extend reservoir lifespans.
To boost raw water storage, over 140 alternative water source ponds and several former mining pools under the Selangor Off-River Storage Scheme (SORSS) have been identified.
“The implementation of SORSS allows the use of alternative water sources to be optimised, with a supply capacity of up to three months, by pumping pond water into the river using portable pumps during low river water levels.
“Overall, the state's water resource readiness is estimated to be able to last up to nine months," Jamaliah said.
The SORSS development aligns with the Water Resources Assurance Scheme (SJAM) project, currently operating in Bestari Jaya and Semenyih.
In the Sungai Selangor river basin, several reservoir areas feature pumping facilities with a maximum flow capacity of 3,840 million litres per day.
In addition, she said Luas would optimise the use of groundwater as an alternative source to treated water, especially for the industrial sector, through water resource abstraction licensing to reduce dependence on treated water supply during this dry season.
Additionally, cloud seeding operations will be triggered if dam capacity drops to 50%, coordinated with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
Luas is also monitoring high-risk industrial areas to prevent illegal effluent discharges.
Jamaliah noted that as of June 30, a total of 6,754 licence applications under the Zero Discharge Policy initiative had been received.
“Water quality monitoring measures are also strengthened in the Sungai Selangor, Sungai Langat and Sungai Klang river basins to monitor and manage potential water source pollution incidents that pose a risk to water treatment plant (WTP) operations.
“The Environment Department reported the Water Quality Index data for the state's main rivers remained good as of April 2026, and could be used for the purpose of supplying water at the WTP inlets,” she said.
Jamaliah urged the public to conserve water, avoid open burning and prioritise health by staying hydrated and limiting outdoor activities.
