Batu:The flood retention pond in Batu is being considered for an upgrade to serve a dual purpose, maintaining its flood mitigation role while supplying up to 10 million litres of alternative water daily.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA) announced that the project aims to deliver five million litres per day (MLD) for domestic use, potentially benefiting approximately 6,000 homes, and another five MLD for industrial use in the Batu area.

Studies have shown that the pond has the capacity for water abstraction of up to 95 MLD. However, PETRA has proposed an initial capacity of 10 MLD to test the feasibility of the dual-purpose concept. The feasibility study and concept design are currently being conducted by the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM).

The pilot project will be implemented in two phases. Phase One involves completing the feasibility study and concept design by December. Phase Two will focus on the physical implementation based on the study's findings, pending government approval.

PETRA emphasized that the pond's primary function will continue to be flood mitigation. The ongoing study will evaluate the technical requirements to ensure that using the pond as an alternative water source does not compromise its flood mitigation capacity. It will also assess raw water quality, pollution levels, and treatability to determine suitability as an alternative supply source.

The project supports the National Water Policy's goal of enhancing water security through efficient, sustainable, and resilient water resource management. It aims to improve the country's readiness for climate change impacts and extreme weather, including floods and droughts.