PAPAR: The cross-connection of pipelines from the Kogopan Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to the main tank pipeline in Kawang here is an immediate mitigation measure to address the serious water supply disruption that has affected the district since December last year.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the cross-connection has reduced the water supply distance from 33km to 10.3km while awaiting the completion of the Kogopan II WTP upgrading project, which began in August 2023 and is expected to be completed this August.
The Papar MP said the capacity of the Kogopan WTP has also been increased by 10 per cent to meet the critical needs of residents in Mukim Kinarut and Kawang, supplied through the cross-connected pipeline network.
“To implement this 10 per cent increase in treatment capacity, the works involved include cross-connecting the existing pipeline network from the Kogopan WTP to Mukim Kinarut and Kawang at two locations.
“This also involves the replacement of valves at the existing Kogopan WTP and the replacement of water pumps at the plant,” he said in a statement.
In October last year, Armizan said the construction of the Kogopan II WTP, with an allocation of about RM365 million, is expected to increase water supply capacity from 40 million litres per day (MLD) to 80 MLD.
He said on-site works have been carried out continuously 24 hours a day since Jan 9 and are expected to be completed by Jan 24.
Armizan said the valve replacement process would require the temporary shutdown of the plant for about 10 hours starting late Tuesday night (Jan 20), subject to weather conditions.
“The temporary shutdown is expected to affect several areas in the Papar district and official information will be issued by the Sabah State Water Department in the near future.
“We are doing our utmost to ease the difficulties faced by residents who have long endured this problem,” he said.
