KOTA BHARU: The Wakaf Bunut Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Pasir Puteh temporarily shut down due to raw water quality issues at its intake point on April 11.
Syarikat Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB), in a statement on Saturday (April 13), said the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) informed that the shutdown was necessary as a safety measure pending further investigation.
"Sungai Rasau, the intake source for the plant, is believed to be contaminated with chemicals from a nearby fish farm," it said.
SPAN and the Kelantan State Water Resources Department (JSANK) jointly visited the Department of Irrigation and Drainage's dam on Sungai Rasau on Saturday (April 12) and found dead fish.
"Plant operations will only resume once JSANK or the Environment Department confirms the raw water is safe for treatment," it said.
During the shutdown, water will be channelled from the Merbau Chondong WTP to Wakaf Bunut via the Padang Pak Amat Booster Pump.
Four AKSB tankers and two contract tankers have been deployed to critical premises such as hospitals and schools, and additional assistance will be sought from nearby operators, including Syarikat Air Terengganu, it added.
Updates will be provided via AKSB's website at www.airkelantan.com.my, the MyAKSB app, Facebook, or through the Pintas hotline at 15777. – Bernama