SINGAPORE – Singapore’s water agency, PUB, has started supplying additional potable water to Johor in response to a request for help from Johor’s water regulatory body.
Under the 1962 Water Agreement between Singapore and Johor, PUB is entitled to draw up to 250 million gallons per day (mgd) of raw water from the Johor River. In return, Johor is entitled to treated water of up to 2 per cent (or 5mgd) of raw water supplied.
PUB said in a statement today (June 6) that Johor asked PUB to supply an additional 6mgd of potable water for a month, to supplement water supply in areas serviced by Johor’s Sungei Layang dam.
Dry weather has severely affected water levels in the dam, it said.
PUB said that it started injecting additional supply of water to Johor from the Johor River Waterworks that it operates on Saturday (June 4).
PUB said that the arrangement, which is temporary, will not affect water supply in Singapore “in the short-term”. However, it pointed out that water levels in Linggui Reservoir in Johor, which is operated by the PUB, is at an “all-time low” because of the dry weather.
PUB revealed in the statement that it has been supplying Johor with 16mgd of potable water “over the years”. This latest request will see Singapore temporarily supplying 22mgd to meet Johor’s needs.
A similar arrangement, to supply an additional 5 to 6mgd, was in place from August 14 last year to Jan 8 this year at the request of Johor, PUB said.
See also: Water levels in Linggiu Reservoir hit new low
See also: Massive water crisis threatens Malaysia
sinsh@sph.com.sg
