Torrential rain in Malaysia over the last two days has helped to raise the water level of Singapore's main source of water from there — The Linggiu Reservoir in Johor.

It is now over 30 per cent full, up from 27.5 per cent a week ago, according to reports in local media.

Reports cited a PUB spokesperson who said the water level in the reservoir has gone up due to recent rainfall. It hit a historic low of 20 per cent last October, even though it was as high as 80 per cent in early 2015.

Flooding in Malaysia

A late start to the monsoon season has caused flooding in many parts of Malaysia in January. Johor was the worst hit as the past three days of relentless rain brought floods to nine of the Malaysia's 13 states.

The Linggiu Reservoir regulates the flow of the Johor River. Under the 1962 Water Agreement drafted before Singapore’s independence, Singapore's PUB is entitled to draw up to 250 million gallons of water from the Johor River daily.

In exchange, Johor is entitled to a daily supply of treated water of up to 2 per cent of the raw water it supplies to Singapore.

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan had warned in a written Parliamentary response earlier that there is “significant risk” that the reservoir may run out of water if 2017 turns out to be a dry year, and that would pose "severe problems" for Singapore and Malaysia.

The PUB spokesman said:

“While the water level has increased due to the rains in the last two days, weather uncertainties remain. We all need to continue our efforts to use water wisely and conserve our precious water resources.”

Conclusion: No need for water rationing just yet, thankfully. But we still need to hope it will rain more this year to keep the water flowing.

Related articles:

S’pore going to be wet & cool in final week of January 2017

Johor’s Linggiu Reservoir’s water level is quite dangerously low. Here’s why you should care

Top photo from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan’s FB

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