Latest news with #WaterMasterPlan
The Star
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Selangor developing comprehensive plan to secure water supply, says MB
KUALA SELANGOR: Selangor is developing a master plan to address various aspects of the state's water supply, including storage and catchment pond locations. The master plan will serve as a guideline to manage both dry and rainy seasons. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari stated that the Water Master Plan would cover all matters related to water supply comprehensively, including a long-term flood control system. According to Amirudin, the plan is expected to be completed within a year. "If there is less water, we will face supply problems, and if there is excess water, there will be floods. "This master plan will look comprehensively into both aspects," said Amirudin at an event where the Raw Water Guarantee Scheme (SJAM) Package A and C project was handed over to Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd. Amirudin added that more than 100 water catchment ponds have been identified throughout Selangor, with most currently in the process of being gazetted as strategic storage areas. The state government's SJAM implementation will also be part of the Water Master Plan, with SJAM expected to ensure sufficient water supply for at least the next 50 years. On another matter, Amirudin said the Selangor Water Management Board (LUAS) enactment would be streamlined to punish those caught polluting the environment. He added that punishment could include fines up to RM1mil and a mandatory jail term not exceeding three years. Amirudin noted that despite identifying pollution causes, the burden of proof often results in offenders escaping legal action. "Smell pollution, for example, takes more than 18 to 24 hours to reach the Selangor dam. "Meaning that if anything occurs in Batang Kali it would take 15 to 16 hours for it to reach here, and evidence becomes erased. "That is one of the challenges we face," he added. He said the streamlining of the enactment would allow state government enforcement to carry out thorough investigations and prosecutions. Amirudin mentioned that sometimes pollution is detected, but the source cannot be identified when the party causing the pollution stops the act. "So, we can counter the pollution, but unfortunately we cannot detain and prosecute," said Amirudin. On the SJAM, Amirudin said handing over the two packages complemented two other packages already in operation, guaranteeing continuous water supply to four million residents of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya. He added that RM320mil has been spent on the SJAM to ensure water supply to 1.2 million consumer accounts, even in the event of pollution.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Provo considering water rate hikes to address aging infrastructure
The Provo City Council is looking into solutions for improving water infrastructure including a potential ordinance that would significantly increase the water rate. The council has been looking at water rates since mid-2023 "guided by the need to balance affordability for residents, conservation and financial sustainability," a city staff report said. The proposed ordinance would amend water fees by adjusting water rates and changing billing to a tiered structure for usage by type and meter size rather than the current seasonal rates. After discussion and hearing comments from more than a dozen residents in Tuesday's council meeting, the council voted unanimously to continue the discussion. Councilman Gary Garrett suggested better education programming so residents can fully understand why the city is looking into this issue and to gather more information from residents about their ideas on how to proceed. "One thing has been clear ... is that we haven't been very thorough at establishing the need with our residents about maintaining this delivery system of water. There are things we can do to better communicate with our residents about what needs to be done," Garrett said. The reason for an increase stems from Provo's aging water infrastructure. Approximately 16% of the pipes in Provo were installed before 1955, and another 38% were installed between 1956 and 1990, according to data presented by consultant Keith Larson. Larson said that based on the expected service life of Provo's water system, the city should be investing at least $14 million a year into it. Currently, Provo only invests around $9 million. The water hikes would produce revenue for operation and maintenance costs, which have increased from inflation, and to address replacement and repairs of the aging water system. Additionally, the city's Water Master Plan recommends around $80 million worth of capital projects to maintain the level of service in water infrastructure and address planned growth, according to Larson. The proposal included a 12% rate increase for 2025, which would equate to about $6 more a month for the average water user. Each year the rate would continue to increase at least 6% through 2033 to help catch the city up to the recommended level of funding. Larson said spreading the increase out over the next nine years would maintain service at an affordable price while proactively replacing an aging system, which he said is cheaper in the long term compared to reactively replacing pipes after they break. Along with the water rate increase, the proposal would change billing to a tiered structure, meaning "more expensive water will be charged at a higher rate and less expensive water will be charged at its actual rate, and it creates a fairer cost structure," water resource director Gary Calder said. The tiered structure would include a base rate of around $23, then for the first tier charge $1.46 per thousand gallons for up to 10,000 gallons used. Larson said this would cover the average household's essential indoor uses. In the second tier, it would cost $2.27 per thousand gallons for 10,000 to 55,000 gallons used. This covers the typical outdoor water use, Larson said. The third tier for higher levels of water use would cost $3.97 per thousand gallons above 55,000 gallons used. The tiers vary in volume brackets depending on meter size, but would cost the same per thousand gallons, Larson said. Provo resident Valerie Paxman acknowledged the need for improvements on the water system, but "it is too much" with inflation, rising bills and increased taxes. James Robertson owns an acre of land with dozens of fruit trees and a garden on it. He and another resident asked if the city could make exceptions for people who need extra water for beneficial land uses such as agriculture. "It's been hard enough to pay what I've been paying, and I don't know how to handle the substantial increase," Robertson said. Other residents suggested implementing conservation programs to reward residents who use less water, not penalizing people who let their yards die when they can't afford water, or evaluating the water rate increases yearly rather than implementing an almost decade-long increase. Councilwoman Rachel Whipple said it's disappointing when the council works on something for more than a year and a proposal gets this far in the process, then they are flooded with calls about something being "out of the blue." She encouraged everyone to be involved in city issues and participate in meetings because "we do want you to be involved. We do want to hear because your information helps us make better decisions." The council did not specify when the issue would be brought up for discussion again.
