Brace for a long dry spell, Kedah folk warned

ALOR SETAR: Kedah is in for a long dry spell and the people have been advised to brace for a shortage of water supply.

State local government, water supply, water resources, energy, housing and human capital committee chairman Badrol Hisham Hashim said the dry spell would last until next month.

“As such, I would like to advise consumers not to waste water,” he told reporters after visiting the Shahab Perdana bus terminal here yesterday.

“Those living in areas frequently hit by shortages should buy large containers to store water.”

Badrol Hisham said state water corporation Syarikat Air Darul Aman (Sada) had been told to be alert and put its water tanks on stand-by for a possible shortage.

He was commenting on a meteorological department weather forecast that had reported a “low chance” of rainfall in most parts of the state and peninsular Malaysia in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) general manager Datuk Abdul Rahim Salleh said the state’s three dams would be able to provide enough water to support the agriculture and domestic needs of the people during the dry spell.

He said water storage was an average 70% at the dams, with the current readings at Pedu dam at 92.05m (mimimum level 61.5m), Ahning dam at 105.7m (72.8m) and Muda dam at 95.7m (82.2m).

“I believe we can get through the dry spell with the supply,” said Abdul Rahim, adding that Mada would not release any water for padi cultivation until the next planting season starts at the end of March.

Sada public relations officer Rofedi Sulaiman said all 37 water treatment plants in the state were operating as normal.

“We did receive complaints of low water pressure in certain parts of Kedah, This is due to high water usage and not low water supply.” he said.