SINGAPORE -Singapore has been supplying additional potable water to Johor since Aug 14, national water agency PUB said on Thursday.
This was after Johor's water regulatory body, Badan Kawalselia Air Johor (BAKAJ), asked for assistance, PUB said.
The current dry weather has severely affected water levels in Johor's Sungei Layang dam, and BAKAJ has started water rationing in parts of Johor Baru from Aug 16 to Sept 15.
PUB has thus been injecting an additional five to six million gallons per day (mgd) of drinkable water from the Johor River Waterworks (JRWW) that PUB operates to supplement the water supply in Johor Baru during the period of water rationing.
Over the years, PUB has, at Johor's request, supplied about 16 mgd of water per day to Johor. This latest request will see Singapore supplying up to 22 mgd of potable water to meet Johor's needs.
This arrangement, which will not affect the water supply in Singapore, is temporary and subject to regular review, PUB said.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Singapore's water supply from Malaysia has been affected by recent dry weather.
Singapore draws up to 250 million gallons of raw water a day, or up to about 60 per cent of its water needs, from the Johor River in Malaysia. Johor also draws water from the Johor River.
This is only possible because the Linggiu Reservoir in Johor releases water into the river, preventing seawater from intruding into the river.
Singapore also draws water from local catchments and reservoirs, reclaims used water and uses desalinated water.
PUB said that there has been some rain in Singapore and the water agency has increased its production of NEWater and desalinated water to meet local demand. It added that the water levels in local reservoirs remain healthy.
Due to dry weather, water levels in the Linggiu Reservoir in Johor is at an all-time low. It has dipped slightly to 54.18 per cent, from 54.5 per cent two weeks ago.
PUB had to stop extracting water from the Johor river temporarily 77 times this year, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said on Aug 3.
