CLOUD SEEDING PLANNED AS JOHOR TACKLES WATER SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS IN KLUANG, PONTIAN

JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- The Johor state government is expected to carry out cloud seeding in several areas on Feb 11 following unplanned water supply disruptions in the Kluang and Pontian districts.

State Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said discussions have been held with the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) on the matter.

He said the effort is expected to help raise water levels at the affected dams, namely Machap Dam and Gunung Pulai Dam, which have seen declining levels due to the dry spell.

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The state government will also look at other measures to increase water capacity at affected water treatment plants, including the Simpang Renggam Water Treatment Plant (LRA), by optimising supply from alternative sources.

“We will also draw water from the central section of Machap Dam, which is expected to add about 20 million litres per day (MLD) to the Simpang Renggam LRA.

“The Simpang Renggam LRA has a capacity of 60 MLD and is currently operating at below 30 per cent,” he told reporters when met at the Johor Dialogue 2026 programme at the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) here today.

Mohamad Fazli was commenting on measures taken by the state government to address the unplanned water supply disruptions in the two districts. 

He expressed hope that the steps taken would help stabilise dam storage levels and ease the water supply situation ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations and Ramadan.

Mohamad Fazli also expressed appreciation to states that assisted Johor by lending water tanks, including Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kelantan, Perak, Kedah and Penang, during the disruption period.

On Feb 7, Johor water operator Ranhill SAJ said in a Facebook post that unplanned water supply disruptions had occurred in Kluang and Pontian following declining water levels at the Simpang Renggam LRA due to the dry season.

However, the operator said scheduled water supply was implemented from midnight the same day as a temporary management measure, with alternative water supply provided via water tankers and static tanks at designated and strategic locations.

-- BERNAMA