PAPAR: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has instructed the state 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 Kampung Limbahau here.
The proposed site at Kampung Kabang is further upstream of Sungai Papar to avoid a recurrence of saltwater intrusion that forced a total shutdown of the EWSS WTP.
This is to address the high salinity issue at the first water intake in Kampung Limbahau, he said after visiting the Limbahau EWSS WTP today.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister who is also Papar MP, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali had proposed that the second water intake serve as an alternative water intake to source raw water when its existing intake is problematic.
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), more than the maximum standard of 120 (mg/L).
Saltwater has flowed 13km into Sungai Papar, surpassing the Limbahau EWSS WTP water intake, which is about 8km away from the Papar River estuary.
Hajiji was also told that the shutting down of Limbahau EWSS WTP since Feb 17 along with the Jetama and Kogopon water plants in Papar had caused a production drop to 35 million litres daily (MLD) against 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.
"Based on the briefing from the district officer, district engineer and state water director, I can see action has been taken to lessen the burden of the people.
"It is important that we do everything we can to help the people," said Hajiji.
He was briefed that the EWSS shutdown and prolonged drought has caused critical water shortage affecting about 150,000 people in the district.
District officer Mohd Fuad Abdullah said water tankers and four static tanks were deployed to those affected as water is available at the District Water Department headquarters.
"I hope the water supply delivery using the water tankers would be continued and if need be, the State Government would foot the bills for additional water," said Hajiji.
Meanwhile, he said cloud seeding was being considered above the water catchment areas depending on the suitable clouds.
State Water Department director Suhaimi Asbullah said water production in the whole 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.
Hajiji also visited Jetama's alternative water intake in Kampung Kabang where the second intake for Limbahau EWSS WTP is also proposed.
Among those present included Deputy Chief Minister III and Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and assistant ministers Datuk Limus Jury and Datuk Robert Tawi; Kawang assemblyman Datuk Ghulam Haidar Bahadar Khan; Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Sofian Alfian Nair and Economic Planning Unit director Datuk Jasmine Teo.
