Flood mitigation remains Batu pond’s priority as Petra explores supplying 10 million litres daily

A view of the Batu flood retention pond in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Yusof Isa

First Published: Friday, 02 Oct 2026 2:57 PM MYT

Last Modified: Friday, 02 Oct 2026 3:02 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — The Batu flood retention pond could be upgraded into a dual-purpose facility that retains its flood mitigation role while providing up to 10 million litres of alternative water supply daily.

The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (Petra) said the proposed pilot project would provide five million litres per day (MLD) for domestic use, potentially benefiting about 6,000 homes, and another 5 MLD for industrial use in the Batu area.

Previous studies found that the pond has the potential for water abstraction of up to 95 MLD. However, Petra said an initial capacity of 10 MLD had been proposed to assess the feasibility of the dual-purpose concept.

“The proposal remains subject to confirmation through a feasibility study and concept design currently being undertaken by the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (Nahrim).

“The pilot project will be implemented in two phases, with Phase One involving the feasibility study and concept design, expected to be completed this December, while Phase Two will involve physical implementation based on the study’s findings and subject to government approval,” the ministry said in a statement.

Petra stressed that flood mitigation would remain the pond’s primary function.

The ongoing study will assess the technical requirements to ensure its use as an alternative water source does not compromise its existing flood mitigation capacity.

It will also examine raw water quality, pollution levels and treatability to determine whether the water is suitable as an alternative supply source.

Petra said the project was in line with the National Water Policy’s aim of strengthening water security through more efficient, sustainable and resilient water resource management.

It would also enhance the country’s preparedness for the impact of climate change and extreme weather, including floods and droughts. — Bernama