Papar needs alternative RM20 million raw water intake
Published on: Monday, March 18, 2024
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
Armizan said the current state which the residents here are facing now would not happen if a project of upgrading work on the Kogopon water treatment plant had started its constructions in 2019 under the previous State government which can be completed in 2022.
PAPAR: An alternative water intake costing RM20 million at a suitable area in Kg Kabang, near here, is among solutions to tackle the critical water supply in the district.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister cum Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said this is so that two water treatment plants in Limbahau – namely Emergency
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Water Supply Scheme (EWSS) Water Treatment Plant and Jetama Water Treatment Plant – can use the alternative water intake to source raw water when its existing intake is problematic.
He said this alternative or second water intake should be constructed for use of the two treatment plants in Limbahau that are currently depending on its existing water intake which has too high salinity.
“Building the proposed alternative water intake has reached the attention of State Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
The required cost is up to RM20 million and can be completed in six months. I will also bring this matter to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.
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We hope the State Government can give special consideration to prevent the water treatment plants in Limbahau from shutting down when water intake has very high salinity,” he said.
Armizan said the dry spell here has passed two months and has been aggravated by the effects of the El-Nino phenomenon.
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He said the hot and dry weather is expected to continue in Papar until the end of March and it is forecasted that rain will fall next month.
“This has led to small fires in many places. The worst impact is on the two water treatment plants in Kg Limbahau which was forced to stop operations from Feb. 17 until March 16, about a month ago.
“The source of raw water that reaches the ‘water intake’ of the two water treatment plants has a very high salinity rate at 4,277 miligram per litre (mg/L) at ots latest reading at 8am on March 16 Saturday that is far above its standard of allowed salinity level at 120mg/L or below.
“The cessation of operation of these two water treatment plants has caused disruption of water supply to more than 50,000 residents here.
That is why an alternative water intake is much needed to make sure such disruption on the water supply would not recur,” he said.
According to Armizan, the two treatment plants did face a similar problem last year when both had to stop operations temporarily for 26 days due to the same issue of water salinity exceeding the standards for treatment.
For a short-term solution, he said his Papar Parliament Office will provide a static tank in the Ramadan bazaar area around Papar to make it easier for affected residents to get water supplies more easily throughout this fasting month.
Armizan said I have asked for water tankers or static tanks with 20,000 gallons of water each to be placed at the Ramadan Bazaar for use of the traders and residents who patronise the bazaar.
Armizan said the current state which the residents here are facing now would not happen if a project of upgrading work on the Kogopon water treatment plant had started its constructions in 2019 under the previous State government which can be completed in 2022.
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