Water levels in Linggiu Reservoir hit new low
By Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times, 13 Apr 2016
Water levels in the Linggiu Reservoir in Johor, which helps to meet half of Singapore's water needs, have fallen to a new historic low.
The reservoir is just over one-third full. Last October, water levels in the reservoir already reached a low of 41 per cent, but they have fallen some more to 36.9 per cent.
These levels are far below the 80 per cent that the reservoir in Malaysia had at the start of last year.
By Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times, 13 Apr 2016
The reservoir is just over one-third full. Last October, water levels in the reservoir already reached a low of 41 per cent, but they have fallen some more to 36.9 per cent.
These levels are far below the 80 per cent that the reservoir in Malaysia had at the start of last year.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli told Parliament the drop was due to dry weather: "This has impacted the reliability of imported water that supplies half our current needs."
He added: "Fortunately, because we have diversified our water resources, we have been able to mitigate the impact of drier weather. But we cannot be complacent."
The Linggiu Reservoir, built upstream of the Johor River in 1994, collects and releases rainwater into the river.
The Linggiu Reservoir, built upstream of the Johor River in 1994, collects and releases rainwater into the river.
This pushes seawater back into the sea and ensures that the river water is not too salty to be treated by the Singapore-run water treatment plant there.
Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) and Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC) were among those who asked about Singapore's long-term plans to ensure water sustainability and resilience to droughts.
Mr Masagos said the Government will continue to "plan and invest ahead of demand" . A Newater factory, which can produce 50 million gallons of water a day, will be built this year and two new desalination plants will be ready by 2019.
Construction of a third desalination plant in Tuas will be completed next year, while the fourth plant in Marina East, which will supply water to the city area, will be ready in end-2019.
Water agency PUB is also exploring building a fifth desalination plant on Jurong Island.
Some 430 million gallons of water are needed here daily. Demand could more than double by 2060.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong posted on his Facebook page last night that water "has always been and will always be a strategic issue for Singapore, which is why I watch the water levels very closely".
"We must continue to conserve and make the most of this precious resource," he said, urging people to do their part by not wasting water.
Fourth desalination plant to treat fresh and sea water
By Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times, 15 Apr 2016
Singapore's fourth desalination plant, which is set to be completed by 2019, will be the first to treat both fresh and sea water.
When operational, the plant will meet the water needs of the central and eastern parts of the island.
National water agency PUB will call for a tender today for the construction of the plant in Marina East, which will be able to produce up to 30 million gallons of fresh drinking water a day.
Fourth desalination plant to treat fresh and sea water
By Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times, 15 Apr 2016
Singapore's fourth desalination plant, which is set to be completed by 2019, will be the first to treat both fresh and sea water.
When operational, the plant will meet the water needs of the central and eastern parts of the island.
National water agency PUB will call for a tender today for the construction of the plant in Marina East, which will be able to produce up to 30 million gallons of fresh drinking water a day.
PUB said in a press release yesterday that the successful bidder will design, build, own and operate the desalination plant.
The building of the fourth plant is part of the Government's plan to expand its desalination and Newater capacities to meet up to 85 per cent of Singapore's water needs by 2060.
The building of the fourth plant is part of the Government's plan to expand its desalination and Newater capacities to meet up to 85 per cent of Singapore's water needs by 2060.
Associate Professor Darren Sun from the Nanyang Technological University's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering said that in the light of climate change, water sustainability is a major concern for Singapore.
"We need to build resilience to combat climate change, in long periods without rain," said Prof Sun.
"The versatile plant will enable us to continuously produce high-quality water from both sea water and fresh water from the marina catchment, while maintaining healthy water levels in the reservoirs."
Singapore currently has two desalination plants. Both of them are in Tuas and, together, can produce a total of 100 million gallons of water a day.
The construction of a third plant in Tuas is expected to be completed next year. This will add another 30 million gallons of water a day to Singapore's water supply.
Mr William Yeo, PUB's director of policy and planning, said: "Like Newater, desalinated water is independent of rainfall and can be used to supplement our other water sources during dry weather."
During the debate on the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources' budget on Tuesday, minister Masagos Zulkifli said he was worried about the challenge that extreme weather patterns stemming from climate change could pose to water sustainability.
Water levels in the Linggiu Reservoir, which helps to supply half of Singapore's water needs, fell to a new historic low of 36.9 per cent on Tuesday.
Singapore's current water demand stands at about 430 million gallons of water per day and this could more than double by 2060 - with non-domestic water demand estimated to make up 70 per cent of overall water use.
Meeting nation's water needs
By Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times, 15 Apr 2016
SINGSPRING DESALINATION PLANT
Located in Tuas, the plant opened in 2005 and can supply up to 30 million gallons of water each day.
TUASPRING DESALINATION PLANT
Built in 2013, the plant in Tuas is the biggest one in Singapore. It can produce up to 70 million gallons of water a day.
THIRD PLANT
To be completed by next year, the plant will add another 30 million gallons of water a day to Singapore's water supply.
FOURTH PLANT
With a capacity to produce 30 million gallons of water a day, or about 7 per cent of current water demand, the plant in Marina East, to be built by 2019, will be able to meet demand in the city area as well as the eastern part of Singapore. It can also treat freshwater from the nearby Marina Reservoir.
FIFTH PLANT?
PUB is exploring building a fifth water desalination plant on Jurong Island.
By Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times, 15 Apr 2016
SINGSPRING DESALINATION PLANT
Located in Tuas, the plant opened in 2005 and can supply up to 30 million gallons of water each day.
TUASPRING DESALINATION PLANT
Built in 2013, the plant in Tuas is the biggest one in Singapore. It can produce up to 70 million gallons of water a day.
THIRD PLANT
To be completed by next year, the plant will add another 30 million gallons of water a day to Singapore's water supply.
FOURTH PLANT
With a capacity to produce 30 million gallons of water a day, or about 7 per cent of current water demand, the plant in Marina East, to be built by 2019, will be able to meet demand in the city area as well as the eastern part of Singapore. It can also treat freshwater from the nearby Marina Reservoir.
FIFTH PLANT?
PUB is exploring building a fifth water desalination plant on Jurong Island.
Malaysian states ration water as dry spell persists
Johor starts tomorrow with 85,000 affected, rationing for about 13,000 has started in Perlis
The Sunday Times, 17 Apr 2016
PETALING JAYA • Malaysians in several states are being hit by water rationing as a prolonged dry spell shows no signs of abating, with dams and lakes around the country drying up.
The worst hit will be 85,000 domestic and industrial consumers in parts of Johor when rationing starts tomorrow.
In northern Perlis state, rationing for about 13,000 people started yesterday, with water tankers sent out to the villages affected.
Perlis' Timah Tasoh Dam last week had cows grazing on the freshly-sprouted grass around the edges of the dam.
The National Water Services Commission (Span) has raised the alarm, warning that not enough is being done to conserve water in the country of 30 million people.
Span's chief executive Mohd Ridhuan Ismail said urgent measures are needed to remind the public to stop wasting and start conserving water.
Johor starts tomorrow with 85,000 affected, rationing for about 13,000 has started in Perlis
The Sunday Times, 17 Apr 2016
PETALING JAYA • Malaysians in several states are being hit by water rationing as a prolonged dry spell shows no signs of abating, with dams and lakes around the country drying up.
The worst hit will be 85,000 domestic and industrial consumers in parts of Johor when rationing starts tomorrow.
In northern Perlis state, rationing for about 13,000 people started yesterday, with water tankers sent out to the villages affected.
Perlis' Timah Tasoh Dam last week had cows grazing on the freshly-sprouted grass around the edges of the dam.
The National Water Services Commission (Span) has raised the alarm, warning that not enough is being done to conserve water in the country of 30 million people.
Span's chief executive Mohd Ridhuan Ismail said urgent measures are needed to remind the public to stop wasting and start conserving water.
He criticised the cheap water rate put in place by the Penang state government as it sent the wrong message to consumers.
He said: "It may be good for consumers there in the short term, but these policies can stress the state's water supply."
The prolonged hot and dry spell is impacting different parts of the country in different ways.
In Johor, output from four water treatment plants in the Kota Tinggi and Mersing districts have reached critically low levels.
Water levels in the Linggiu Reservoir in Johor, which helps to meet half of Singapore's water needs, last Wednesday fell to a new historic low. The reservoir was just over one-third full.
During the Johor water rationing, supply will run as usual for one day but with the taps completely dry for the two days after that.
On Pulau Banggi, Malaysia's largest island which is located off northern Sabah, the government has been bringing in thousands of water bottles from the mainland in the past two weeks as water sources have dried up. The island has a population of about 20,000.
Banggi's sole water treatment plant that was pumping at 30 per cent of its full capacity of two million litres daily, stopped operations on April 8 after its water source, Sungai Pengkalan Darat, dried up.
"My friend who has a family of six received a carton containing 12 bottles. The bottled water lasted them for three days. Now, they have to find water, however far and hard it is," Pastor Albert Adampai told The Star newspaper.
Near the Perak-Thai border, an entire lake has all but disappeared as the water has dried up. The man- made Tasek Takong used to be a popular spot for anglers and picnickers.
Residents of the area did not complain too much though, as they had a lot of fun scooping up pails of fish trying to hide in the shallow waters in the last few days.
"The last time this happened, when the lake had also dried up, was four years ago," said a villager known only as Rosli.
The dry spell had already delayed padi planting by several weeks in the northern states of Kedah, Perlis and Penang.
Penang's water corporation PBA Holdings has now urged the federal government to instruct all water authorities to stop releasing water from dams to irrigate padi fields until rain returns.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
* Johor 'able to meet water obligation to Singapore'
Top official says it can still supply agreed amount of raw water despite dry spell
The Straits Times, 26 Apr 2016
JOHOR BARU • Johor will continue to meet its obligation to supply 250 million gallons of raw water to Singapore daily even though the state is in the grip of a dry spell leading to water rationing in some areas, a top state official has said.
Johor's Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman, Datuk Hasni Mohammad, told The Star daily that the state would still be able to meet Singapore's water needs despite the drop in levels in several dams and reservoirs around Johor.
"We will still be able to meet Singapore's needs despite the drop," he was quoted as saying.
The Separation Agreement guarantees Singapore the right to draw 250 million imperial gallons a day (mgd) of raw water from the Johor River. This right expires in 2061.
In an effort to ensure that this right was enforced in a sustainable way, the PUB had built and operates a large regulating reservoir - the Linggiu Reservoir - on the upper reaches of the Johor River.
The reservoir, which helps to meet half of Singapore's water needs, collects and releases rainwater into the river. This pushes seawater back into the sea and ensures that the river water is not too salty to be treated by the Singapore-run water treatment plant there.
But water levels in the Linggiu Reservoir have fallen to a new historic low. The reservoir is just over one-third full. Last October, water levels in the reservoir had already reached a low of 41 per cent, but they have fallen some more to 35 per cent. These levels are far below the 80 per cent that the reservoir had at the start of last year.
Mr Hasni yesterday also outlined several measures in the pipeline to alleviate the water situation.
He said cloud seeding would be carried out around dams and a crackdown was imminent on those who drew water illegally from catchment areas.
"We will take stern action against those found drawing water illegally from the water catchment areas, including charging them with trespassing on state-owned land," he told reporters. He said the military and police would be roped in for enforcement action.
He also disclosed that the state authorities had issued notices to large-scale vegetable farmers with property close to the water catchment areas to look at other water resources instead of using river water.
"We are also closely watching whether animal breeders and factories draw water illegally from the water catchment areas and rivers," he said.
Mr Hasni also referred to the RM90 million (S$31 million) Johor River Barrage project to reduce salinity in the river.
"The barrage will be fully operational in the next few months," he said, adding that this would allow for water extraction to be carried out in the river without the worry of saltwater intrusion into treatment plants.
Singapore and Malaysia have been working together on projects such as the barrage to increase water resources in Johor, according to Singapore's Consulate-General in Johor Baru.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
* Johor 'able to meet water obligation to Singapore'
Top official says it can still supply agreed amount of raw water despite dry spell
The Straits Times, 26 Apr 2016
JOHOR BARU • Johor will continue to meet its obligation to supply 250 million gallons of raw water to Singapore daily even though the state is in the grip of a dry spell leading to water rationing in some areas, a top state official has said.
Johor's Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman, Datuk Hasni Mohammad, told The Star daily that the state would still be able to meet Singapore's water needs despite the drop in levels in several dams and reservoirs around Johor.
"We will still be able to meet Singapore's needs despite the drop," he was quoted as saying.
The Separation Agreement guarantees Singapore the right to draw 250 million imperial gallons a day (mgd) of raw water from the Johor River. This right expires in 2061.
In an effort to ensure that this right was enforced in a sustainable way, the PUB had built and operates a large regulating reservoir - the Linggiu Reservoir - on the upper reaches of the Johor River.
The reservoir, which helps to meet half of Singapore's water needs, collects and releases rainwater into the river. This pushes seawater back into the sea and ensures that the river water is not too salty to be treated by the Singapore-run water treatment plant there.
But water levels in the Linggiu Reservoir have fallen to a new historic low. The reservoir is just over one-third full. Last October, water levels in the reservoir had already reached a low of 41 per cent, but they have fallen some more to 35 per cent. These levels are far below the 80 per cent that the reservoir had at the start of last year.
Mr Hasni yesterday also outlined several measures in the pipeline to alleviate the water situation.
He said cloud seeding would be carried out around dams and a crackdown was imminent on those who drew water illegally from catchment areas.
"We will take stern action against those found drawing water illegally from the water catchment areas, including charging them with trespassing on state-owned land," he told reporters. He said the military and police would be roped in for enforcement action.
He also disclosed that the state authorities had issued notices to large-scale vegetable farmers with property close to the water catchment areas to look at other water resources instead of using river water.
"We are also closely watching whether animal breeders and factories draw water illegally from the water catchment areas and rivers," he said.
Mr Hasni also referred to the RM90 million (S$31 million) Johor River Barrage project to reduce salinity in the river.
"The barrage will be fully operational in the next few months," he said, adding that this would allow for water extraction to be carried out in the river without the worry of saltwater intrusion into treatment plants.
Singapore and Malaysia have been working together on projects such as the barrage to increase water resources in Johor, according to Singapore's Consulate-General in Johor Baru.
No comments:
Post a Comment