Hybrid system expected to stabilise state water supply

The hybrid off-river augmentation system (Horas) 3000 being constructed in Bestari Jaya, Kuala Selangor, is expected to provide Selangor with sufficient water supply once completed.

State infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim said Selangor conducted a suitability study before the project’s development.

“Studies were carried out to consider site suitability, the location distance for pumping operation facilities as well as quantity and quality of raw water to be used in water treatment plants.

“Under the Horas concept, raw water from the pond is not directly channelled to a water treatment plant.

“Instead, river water is directed to former mining ponds for a certain period to reduce sediments and improve water quality,” he said.

Infrastructure for Horas 3000 will include installation of a pump with a capacity of 3,000 million litres per day (MLD), pump houses, raw water pipes and an automatic adjustable sluice structure in Sungai Selangor.

Izham said that based on studies, former mining sites that could be used for off-river storage for a period of time were deemed suitable.

He was responding to Nurul Syazwani Noh (PN-Permatang) who asked about the suitability of using former mining pools for water treatment.

“The Horas project was initially planned to utilise several former mining ponds in Bestari Jaya.

“Selangor government conducted an initial study on the implementation of Horas 600 in 2013.

“Construction of Horas 600 began in April 2014 and was completed in October 2019.

“Horas 3000, a larger-scale project, was also implemented by the state government in 2013.

“Its report was presented in detail in 2019. It covered the construction of downstream water source reservoirs in Bestari Jaya capable of supplying water up to 3,000 MLD,” he said.

Izham told the House that detailed studies for Horas 600 and Horas 3000 were conducted to identify new water sources capable of meeting long-term supply demands with an adequate reserve margin.

“Through the paper ‘Study on water source, supply, demand and distribution for Selangor,’ that was completed in February 2018, the initial plan was to implement Horas 3000 Phase 1 in 2060.

“However, based on the current water demand analysis by Air Selangor, Horas 3000 has been expedited to ensure future demands are met while realising a targeted reserve margin of 20% as set by Environment and Water Ministry,” he said.

Izham said that through an Air Selangor study completed earlier this year, factors such as climate change affecting the sustainability and suitability of raw water sources for extraction to new water treatment plants were considered.

“The studies also noted that Horas 3000 reservoirs have been identified as the last raw water source for Selangor before it transitions to sea water as a new raw water source.

“Regarding land use for Horas’ implementation, the project covers about 2,013ha, of which 379ha are former mining areas that constitute water reservoirs, while the remaining area is land,” he added.

Izham said the land was owned by Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd, a subsidiary of Menteri Besar Incorporated under the Selangor government.

The rights to the land, he disclosed, were transferred to Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor Bhd on Aug 17, 2010.

“This land has been registered as agricultural land and declared as a water catchment area for Horas,” he said during the sitting.