State Public Works, Water Supply and Resources, and Energy Committee chairman Datuk Suraya Yaacob (right) said the department had also built tube wells to generate supplementary water supply for Water Treatment Plants in Merbok, Tupah and Gurun in 2020 under the 11th Malaysia Plan. - NSTP/LUQMAN HAKIM ZUBIR.
ALOR STAR: The Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG) is carrying out comprehensive studies in Kedah to capitalise on the state's underground water as an alternative source.
State Public Works, Water Supply and Resources, and Energy Committee chairman Datuk Suraya Yaacob said the Mapping and Development of Underground Water Sources Studies 2021-2025 aimed to tap underground water as an alternative water source in Kedah.
Suraya (Sungai Tiang-BN) told the Kedah State Assembly today that based on initial studies by JMG, the state has huge potential to develop underground water as an alternative water source.
However, she said underground water use in the state was still low at just one per cent of the state's total water supply resources.
"Initial studies by JMG showed that Kedah has huge potential to develop underground water as a conjunctive water source.
"The use of underground water is an initial respond to resolve water supply disruption issues and it is suitable to be developed in a small or large scale," she said in response to a question from Ooi Tze Min (Bakar Arang-PKR).
Suraya said studies were being carried out all over Kedah including Langkawi island and also in the Kedah Rubber City, Kulim Hi-Tech Park and the proposed Kedah Aerocity site as requested by the state government.
"The objective of these studies is to develop a comprehensive hydrogeology mapping to identify and evaluate underground water potential.
"It is also hoped that the studies will pave way towards the development of sustainable and safe underwater resources," she said.
As a short-term solution to water supply disruption issues in Kedah, she said JMG had built tube wells in Kg Kota Siputeh in Jerlun, Kg Ulu Legong in Baling and Maahad Din in Sik.
She added that the department had also built tube wells to generate supplementary water supply for Water Treatment Plants in Merbok, Tupah and Gurun in 2020 under the 11th Malaysia Plan.
Suraya also told the House that some 3,800 households or 0.59 per cent out of the total 630,659 accounts in Kedah were affected by water supply disruptions.
"Among the hotspot areas that face water supply disruptions during dry spells are Merbok, Tanjung Dawai, Semeling, Singkir and surrounding areas in Gurun which recorded low raw water supply to Water Treatment Plants in Merbok, Gurun and Tupah.
"However, in the event of prolonged dry spells, water supply disruptions may also affect other areas including Ayer Hitam and Kodiang in Kubang Pasu, Padang Terap, Pendang and Sik districts and Weng in the northern part of Baling district, but for now the situation is stable and under control," she said.
Suraya also informed the House that water supply disruptions and low water pressure incidents were caused by several factors including murky and shortage of raw water, electricity supply disruptions, treatment plant mechanical and electrical system problems, low reserve margins and leaks on the main piping system.
"This water supply disruption issues are expected to be resolved with the completion of upgrading works and the construction of new Water Treatment Plants (LRA) by 2024 and 2025," she said.
The projects are LRA Pelubang in Kubang Pasu for residents in Kubang Pasu and Kota Setar; LRA Jenun Baru in Pendang for residents in Pendang and Yan; LRA Bukit Selambau in Kuala Muda for residents in Merbok, Tupah, Tanjung Dawai and surrounding area; LRA Sungai Limau in Baling; LRA Lubuk Buntar Lama in Bandar Baharu; LRA Jeniang baru in Kuala Muda which will benefit residents in Sik and Gurun.
The issue of water supply disruptions took centre stage in today's debate session as elected representatives from both the state government and opposition highlighted complaints received from their respective constituents.
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By Adie Zulkifli - March 22, 2022 @ 1:08pm
