Second Papar water intake okayed
Published on: Wednesday, March 20, 2024
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
Hajiji visiting the Jetama alternative water intake in Kg Kabang, Papar, accompanied by Shahelmey, Limus, Ghulam, Suhaimi and others.
PAPAR: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor has instructed the Water Department and Jetama Sdn Bhd to build a second water intake to feed the Emergency Water Supply Scheme (EWSS) Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Kg Limbahau, here.
The second intake is proposed at Kg Kabang located further upstream of Sungai Papar to avoid a recurrence of saltwater intrusion that has forced a total shutdown of the EWSS WTP.
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“The proposed second intake at Kg Kabang will be the solution for the high salinity issue at the first intake in Kg Limbahau,” he said, after visiting the Limbahau EWSS WTP, Tuesday.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister-cum-Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali had proposed the second intake.
The Chief Minister was briefed by District Water Engineer Afiq Abqari Nain that the salinity level at the Limbahau EWSS WTP water intake has exceeded 4,000 milligrams per litre (mg/L),which is way more than the maximum standard of only 120 2(mg/L).
Saltwater has flowed 13km into Sungai Papar, surpassing the Limbahau EWSS WTP water intake, which is about 8km from the Papar River estuary.
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Hajiji was also told that the shutting down of Limbahau EWSS WTP since Feb. 17 coupled with two other water plants in Papar namely Jetama and Kogopon, which are not fully operational, had resulted in a production drop to 35 million litres daily per day (MLD) compared to its full capacity of 63 MLD.
“I came here today to see the actual situation in Papar, which needs integrated action from all the related agencies.
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“Based on the briefing from the District Officer, District Engineer and State Water Director I can see actions have been taken to lessen the burden of the people.
“It is important that we do everything we can to help the people,” he said.
Hajiji was briefed that the EWSS shutdown and prolonged drought have resulted in a critical water shortage affecting about 150,000 people in the district.
District Officer Mohd Fuad Abdullah said his office had been supplying water using tankers directly to those affected.
He said water is also available at the District Water Department headquarters.
“I hope the water supply delivery using tankers will be continued and, if need be, the State Government will foot the bills for additional water,” said Hajiji.
At the same time, he said cloud seeding was still being considered above catchment areas depending on the suitable clouds.
Meanwhile, Water Department Director Suhaimi Asbullah said water production in the state had dropped to 1,466.29 MLD compared to the normal 1,534 MLD production due to the shutting down of the Limbahau EWSS WTP and Sebatik WTP.
Later, Hajiji also visited Jetama’s alternative water intake in Kg Kabang where the second intake for Limbahau EWSS WTP is also proposed.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister III/Works Minister Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya, Assistant Works Ministers Datuk Limus Jury and Datuk Robert Tawik, Kawang assemblyman, Datuk Ghulam Haidar Bahadar Khan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Datuk Sofian Alfian Nair and Director of Economic Planning Unit, Datuk Jasmine Teo.
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