THE water level at the critical Babagon Dam in Penampang has been restored to a safe level, said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
He said there was now enough water to last for three months without rainfall.
“There’s also a transition period, which means there was some rainfall in the catchment areas,” he told reporters at the Jentayu Sustainable Bhd Hari Raya Open House in Kota Kinabalu.
The 27-year-old Babagon Dam supplies water to over a million consumers in five districts of the Greater Kota Kinabalu area, namely Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Papar, Putatan, and Penampang.
However, Shahelmey indicated that supplying water to Kota Kinabalu remains a challenge due to leaky pipes and illegal water tapping in the district.
“The challenge in the Kota Kinabalu area is not a shortage of water reserves but distribution issues.
“Work to improve supply started late last year when the vendor scheme was introduced among others to address the illegal water tapping in squatter areas.
“Soon, we would also begin filling up all the reservoir tanks around Kota Kinabalu and hopefully the water supply will stabilise then,” he said.
Shahelmey, who is also Sabah’s works minister, said several areas were still facing water supply problems.
For example, he said people in Papar will have to continue to rely on water being sent via tanker lorries or from nearby still tanks refilled by the Water Department or taken from the district office.
According to him, water production in the district remains insufficient as the Limbahau intake, which produces 63 million litres per day (MLD), remains closed due to high levels of salinity or chloride.
“Currently, the Kogopon treatment plant is operating at full capacity, producing up to 40MLD, with an additional 9MLD from a second intake owned by concessionaire Jetama Water Sdn Bhd in Kg Kabang.
“Despite this, there is still a shortage of between 10MLD and 12MLD,” said Shahelmey, adding that there had been a slight improvement in supply than before.
Papar declared an emergency on March 16 due to the extended drought that was affecting around 150,000 residents.
Shahelmey also noted similar challenges faced by residents in Sebatik and Banggi Islands.
“Although there has been rain on Sebatik Island, the water level of the dam is still insufficient. The treatment plant there operates only 16 hours a week, so we still rely on water from tube wells.
“In Banggi, we are still sending water to the island,” he said. – The Vibes, April 17, 2024
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