JOHOR BARU • Johor state-owned water supply company SAJ Holdings will ration water supply to 641,495 domestic and industrial consumers in three districts from Aug 16 to Sept 15.

The exercise in Pasir Gudang, Kota Tinggi and Johor Baru is being implemented following a dip in water levels at the Sungai Layang and Sungai Lebam dams to critical levels.

"The main objective of the exercise is to ensure that we are able to sustain the water levels at the two dams (and prevent them) from dropping further," SAJ corporate communications head Jamaluddin Jamil said in a press statement released yesterday.

The Sungai Layang dam supplies water to 575,000 users in Pasir Gudang. In addition, it supplies water mostly to industrial users in Masai 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.

Mr Jamaluddin said the water level at the Sungai Layang dam has dropped to 19.1m - a critical level - from 23.5m, while it fell from 14m at the Sungai Lebam dam to 9.63m.

He said although heavy rains were recorded in southern Johor in the last few days, they did not help to fill the two dams. Mr Jamaluddin said the scheduled water rationing would be stopped if the water levels return to normal levels.

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

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK