28 water treatment plants in Pahang drying up

KUANTAN: Twenty-eight of the 80 water treatment plants throughout Pahang recorded low levels due to the drought on Thursday. 

The Public Relations Officer of Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad (PAIP) Datuk Jafar Abdullah said the affected plants were located in eight districts, which obtained their water sources from Sungai Pahang and the Sungai Pahang tributaries.

He said seven of the plants were in the district of Lipis, Jerantut (5), Temerloh (4), Maran (4), Pekan (3), Bentong (3) and one each in Rompin and Bera.

"If the drought prolonged further, it will lead to the plants that record low water levels to be closed down," he said.

Jafar said the low level reading was also because of sand blocking the flow of river water at the water intake point. This causes the water to overflow elsewhere.

As a result, he said, cleaning works were being carried out at the water intake plant besides constructing a sand wall on the river to enable smooth flow of river water into the plant.

"However, the volume of water at the 28 treatment plants could still cater to the needs of the consumers in the area," he said.

Pahang supplies water to almost two million consumers at the rate of more than 34 million cubic metres per month.