News & Events
Deputy Works Minister Visits to SSP3 to View Sungai Selangor Dam Progress
25 August 2003 | Category: Events
DEPUTY WORKS MINISTER VISITS TO SSP3 ON 25 AUGUST 2003 TO VIEW SUNGAI SELANGOR DAM IMPOUNDMENT PROGRESS
The Deputy Works Minister YB Dato' Mohamed Khaled Nordin visited the Sungai Selangor Water Supply Scheme Phase 3 ( SSP3 ) project recently to assess the project progress. During the visit, the VIP and guests converged at the Sungai Selangor Dam, which was plugged on April 25, 2003 for the start of impoundment. SPLASH gave a briefing on SSP3 progress followed by a tour to the different components of the project.
The water level at the Sungai Selangor dam is rising as expected after impounding began in April. According to SPLASH, the concessionaire for the SSP3 project, the depth of the water has reached 179.8m with a volume of 61.0 million cubic metres (as of 18 August, 2003). This is 25.9% of the total storage capacity.
The full supply level of the dam is 220m (above sea level) with a total storage capacity of 235million cubic metres, expected to be achieved by the end of 2004.
According to SPLASH Executive Director, Dato' Ir Haji Azmi Mat Nor, it is possible to release water into Sg Selangor before the dam reaches full capacity, thus enabling it to make available more raw water downstream for intakes at Rasa and Batang Berjuntai.
Whenever the base flow is not sufficient for raw water abstraction, such as during prolonged dry weather, water release from the dam would be necessary. Construction work at the dam that is part of the Sungai Selangor Phase 3 project began in January 2000 and was duly completed in April 2003, two months ahead of schedule.
The dam, 400m wide at the base, 800m long and 110m high, is built up of 1.3 million cubic metres of clay core and 6.4 million cubic metres of granite. At full supply level, the inundated area is just 600 ha, making it the dam with the largest storage capacity relative to the area inundated.
The dam is designed as a regulating dam. During heavy rain, excess water from the catchment upstream will be stored in the reservoir within the dam. On dry days when water level at the intakes is low, water will be released into the river. The volume of release is dependent on the amount of the raw water to be abstracted downstream at Rasa and Batang Berjuntai.
The dam has several key components, which enables the dam to function effectively.
The spillway is designed as an open chute which discharges excess water over the crest of the dam. This is to prevent overtopping of the dam. When water overflows into the spillway, it will create a waterfall-like scenery at the downstream side of dam. Visitors may experience this scenario during the wet season .
The draw-off tower is a crucial and prominent structure at the dam. This is the structure through which water is drawn from the reservoir to be released into the river as and when necessary. The draw-off tower has flow measuring devices built in to control and monitor the volume of water released into the river.
The plunge pool, located at the foot of the spillway functions as an energy dissipator to dissipate the energy of any overflowing water before the water is allowed to rejoin the river. This is to prevent turbulence in the river.
The diversion tunnel which was built at the start of construction to divert the river to facilitate construction of the dam is now used to house the twin 2200mm discharge pipes coming out of the drawoff tower.
Apart from performing its primary function to regulate the flow in the river, the Sg. Selangor Dam is a man-made attraction, which offers recreation and scenic view to the public at large.
The dam is a necessity as demand for water Selangor and Federal Territory has outstripped supply and this is the last viable source of raw water.
Other key components of SSP3 are Rasa and Bukit Badong water treatment plants. The Rasa water treatment plant is equipped with a total treatment capacity of 250mld of water. Built over 2 stages, the first stage was completed in November 2001 and able to provide 125 mld. The second stage of another 125 mld will be completed by January 2004.
Works on Bukit Badong water treatment plant is also progressing smoothly. The first phase of Bukit Badong water treatment plant that is able to supply 400 mld of water was completed recently and the second phase of another 400 mld is targeted to complete by 2005.
When fully completed, the SSP3 will have a capacity of 1050 MLD and together with the 950MLD currently supplied by SSP1, SPLASH will be meeting 45% of the total demand for water in the Klang Valley.
PRESS CONFERENCE : Deputy Works Minister YB Dato' Mohamed Khaled Nordin (middle) accompanied by SPLASH Executive Director Dato' Azmi Mat Nor (left) and PUAS Chief Executive Officer YBhg Dato' Sinon Mudzakkir (right)
PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY : (from right) Deputy Works Minister YB Dato' Mohamed Khaled Nordin, SPLASH Executive Director Dato' Azmi Mat Nor and PUAS Chief Executive Officer YBhg Dato' Sinon Mudzakkir overlooking the Sungai Selangor Dam