PAPAR: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji 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 Kampung  Limbahau here. 

The second water intake is proposed at Kampung Kabang located further upstream of  Sungai Papar to avoid a recurrence of saltwater intrusion that has forced a total  shutdown of the EWSS WTP. 

"The proposed second water intake at Kampung Kabang will be the solution for the high  salinity issue at the first water intake in Kampung Limbahau," he said when met 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 is most viable to be used 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), which is way more than the maximum standard of only 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  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 (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. 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,” said Hajiji. 

“It is important that we do everything we can to help the people,” he said. 

The Chief Minister was briefed that the EWSS shutdown and prolonged drought have  resulted in a critical water shortage affecting about 150,000 people in the district.

In his briefing, District Officer Mohd Fuad Abdullah said the District Office had been  supplying water using water tankers directly to those affected and four static tanks. 

Water is also 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. 

At the same time, he said cloud seeding was being considered above the water  catchment areas depending on the suitable clouds. 

Meanwhile, 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. 

Later, Hajiji also visited Jetama's alternative water intake in Kampung 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. 

Ends