KOTA BHARU — The Kelantan government expects the state’s water supply problems to be resolved by 2028 when it will have 58 water treatment plants (WTPs) in operation.
There are currently only 43 WTPs which are unable to meet demand, Kelantan Works, Infrastructure, Water and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Dr Izani Husin said.
“Additionally, 11 more WTPs that will be completed later will also be equipped to clean out sludge,” he said during the state legislative assembly sitting today, Bernama reports.
Izani was replying a question by Kamaruzaman Mohamad (Gual Periok-PAS) on the progress of water supply improvements in the Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas area.
Izani said for this area, the state government is constructing the Kelar 2 WTP in the Pasir Mas district which is expected to be completed in 2028 with a capacity of 2.5 million litres per day compared to the current supply of only 1.35 million litres per day.
Kelantan has also asked Putrajaya for RM2 million to build tube wells for remote areas including in Rantau Panjang as a short-term measure while waiting for the WTP to be completed, the Kijang state assemblyman added.
He also said the state government will not place water tankers in areas affected by water supply while the WTPs are being built as this was costly to the state.
“The water supply delivered by tanker is provided free of charge, but it is borne by the state government. If it continues, it will be a loss to the state government. We will monitor the situation from time to time,” Izani said when replying a supplementary question from Mohamad Nasriff Daud (Pengkalan Pasir-PAS) on placing water tankers in areas awaiting WTPs to be completed.
Earlier this year, in March, Izani admitted the state was having difficulty supplying treated water to residents.
Among the issues were an insufficient number of WTPs, ageing pipes, and population increase.
Another problem was the quality of raw water itself, with most underground water in Kelantan containing magnesium which can cause “hardened” water and clog pipes.
Drought has also worsened the state’s water supply.
Kelantan has been named as the state with the lowest treated water supply coverage at 73.9%, with distribution facility issues as the main impediment, according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2/2024 released in August. – November 24, 2024