JOHOR BARU: Almost 85,000 people in Kota Tinggi and Mersing districts will face water supply rationing beginning next Monday until May 15.
State water utility, SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd said in a statement that the decision followed the low water levels recorded at four water treatment plants in the two districts.
The water treatment plants obtained raw water from a dam and rivers that have seen their water levels depleting in the current hot weather.
A total of 84,935 users are involved in the water rationing exercise. Based on SAJ's water supply schedule, affected consumers will receive water supply for a 24-hour period once every three days.
SAJ Holdings said the water levels in Sungai Sedili Kecil, Kota Tinggi, which supplies raw water to the Lok Heng water treatment plant dropped to 1.58m compared to its 1.50m critical level.
This required SAJ to conduct water rationing in Felda Bukit Waha, Felda Bukit Easter, Felda Simpang Waha, Kuari Waha, Felda Lok Heng Barat, Felda Lok Heng Timur, Felda Lok Heng Selatan and Bukit Tentera starting Monday (April 18) until May 15.
The water levels at Sungai Gembut, which supplies raw water to the Sungai Gembut water treatment plant, Kota Tinggi stood at 0.04m against the 1m minimum mark.
In Mersing district, SAJ Holdings said the water levels in Sungai Mersing, which supplies raw water to the Sungai Mersing water treatment plant was at 12.22m and approaching its 11.7m critical mark.
The water level at the Congok dam, which supplies water to the Tenglu water treatment plant showed a reading of 4.52m which approached its 4.5m critical level.
"The water level at the Sungai Mersing and Tenglu treatment plants are dropping at a rate of 0.03m daily and the situation is alarming," said the statement.
"The scheduling will cease if the levels at the dam and treatment plants improve," it said.
In Kota Tinggi, the other areas affected by the water rationing are Felda Bukit Aping Timur, Felda Bukit Aping Barat, Bandar Sri Perani, Gembut Cina, PPRT Kampung Sayang, Pekan Tanjung Sedili, Kampung Tuan Seh, Taman Tuan Seh, Sedili Kecil, Kampung Belukar Durian, Telok Mahkota, Kampung Sri Gading Laut, Kampung Sri Gading Dalam, Kampung Sri Paya, Kampung Mawai Baru, Kampung Mawai Lama, Jalan Mersing, PPRT Mawai, Ladang Sungai Mong and Jalan Mawai.
Also affected are Kampung Gembut, Kampung Singapura, Kampung Sentosa, Kampung Teluk Jeri Luar/ Dalam, Taman Sedili, Legaran Air Gemuruh, Kampung Sayang, Sedili Besar, Kampung Telok, Kampung Perepat, Kampung Semayong, Kampung Nelayan and Kampung Teluk Nyireh.
In Mersing, the affected areas are from KM0.5 to KM14 Jalan Mersing-Endau, Taman Pantai Timor, Taman Samudera, Taman Sri Bayu, Kampung Sungai Muka Dua, Kampung Air Merah, Taman Air Merah, Taman Guru, Taman Sutera Indah, Estate Kuala Mayang, Jalan Hassan, Taman Emas, Kampung Sawah Dato, Kampung Sri Lalang, Kampung Silapu, Taman Intan, Pusat Desa Bina Diri, Felcra Bukit Pedoman, Kampung Tenglu KM6 to KM14, Taman Lautan Biru, Kampung Makam, Kampung Tenglu Besar, Jalan Sekolah, Jalan Dato Onn and Jalan Abdullah.
Other areas are from KM0.5 to KM12 Jalan Mersing-Jemaluang, Mersing town, Hotel Sri Malaysia, Jalan Ismail, Jalan Panchor, Jalan Abu Bakar, Jalan Sultanah, Kuarters Kastam, Air Putih, Mersing Kecil, Jalan Mahkota, Jalan Bukit, Jalan Padang, Taman Sri Mersing, Taman Nakhoda, Taman Wawasan, Kampung Sri Pantai, Taman Pantai, Kampung Bukit Jaya, Kampung Paya Tingal, Taman Haji Hashim, Kampung Gajah Mati and Pekan Jemaluang.
Consumers are urged to contact SAJ Info Centre at 1-800-88-7474 or send a text message to 019-772 7474 or e-mail to customer.care.saj.com.my, or to log on to its website at www.saj.com.my.