KOTA KINABALU: Heavy to moderate rains over Sabah have replenished water levels at many dried-out rivers in the state.
The water treatment plant along the Papar river has restarted nearly three weeks after it shut down on March 13 following high salinity levels in the raw water due to the drought.
"The arrival of rainfall on some of the days last week in the state is indeed bringing in good news in terms of water supply," said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya on Monday (April 8).
He said the Sabah Water Department's treatment plant at Limbahau in Papar re-commenced operation on Sunday (April 7) evening with a starting capacity of 5 MLD (million liters daily) while the private water producer Jetama’s adjacent plant in Limbahau was operating at maximum capacity of 13 MLD.
"I have also received an update from the Water Department director that there was rainfall in Pulau Sebatik (Tawau) and Banggi Island (Kudat).
"I will be getting updates when the water treatment plants are back to full operation later," said Shahhelmey, who is state Works Minister.
Over the weekend, many areas across Sabah reported moderate to heavy rains with the onset of the inter-monsoons after the state suffered from a severe hot and dry spell since February.
On March 27, the state government started emergency water supplies to over 355 villages involving over 50,000 households in 12 districts state-wide affected by the prolonged dry spell.
Cloud seeding was conducted over three days from March 28 over water catchments in Papar, Tawau and Lahad Datu with some success seen in Pulau Sebatik (Tawau) where the water treatment plant could be operated on a minimal basis.
