PETALING JAYA: Water rationing in Selangor has been extended to April 30 this year, with more areas expected to see dry taps as the country struggles with an on-going heat wave in the Peninsular.

The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) in a statement said Selangor’s seven dams were drying up, and that recent rainfall was too slight to increase water levels there.

“Seeing as the levels in the dams are still low, SPAN has agreed to continue the third stage of scheduled water distribution until Apr 30,” a spokesperson said.

SPAN added that a meeting between them, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, Selangor Government, water operators and other agencies on Friday led to a decision that a fourth phase of water rationing was to take place from Apr 4 onwards.

It added that under this phase, water rationing would be further expanded to other areas in Selangor, adding that details on this would be revealed by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) on Apr 1.

Set up on March 10, Selangor’s third phase of water rationing covers a total of 722,032 households or 3.6 million people.

Districts affected include Gombak, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Langat, USJ and Kuala Lumpur.

SPAN added that water rationing would also continue for 60,185 households affected by the closure of the Batu 11 (Cheras) and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants.

According to data provided by SPAN, the Sungai Selangor Dam collected only 2mm in Feb 2014, and 41mm of rainwater as from March 1 to March 27.

In comparison, the dam collected 149mm and 107mm of rainwater in March and Feb last year.

LUAS, the Selangor Water Management Authority, on its website showed that all dams in Selangor saw lower water levels than last week.

As of Friday morning, these dams were at: 90.19% (Batu), 50.11% (Klang Gates), 49.31% (Langat), 72.31% (Semenyih), 36.74% (Sg Selangor), 62.7% (Sg Tinggi) and 87.93% (Tasik Subang).

LUAS previously told The Star that the situation at Sungai Selangor would be considered critical if levels dipped below 30%.

Earlier this month, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximums Johnity Ongkili said that a water emergency may be declared if conditions did not improve.