The new RM216 million water treatment plant is being financed by Bank Rakyat. (Facebook pic)NIBONG TEBAL: The new 80 million-litres-per-day (MLD) water treatment plant at Sungai Kerian will improve water supply in Seberang Perai Selatan, says Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.Chow said two treatment plants had previously been built in the district at Bukit Panchor and Sungai Bakap to address water supply issues, which have since been resolved.“This 80MLD treatment plant will further improve the water supply situation in Seberang Perai Selatan upon its completion in the middle of next year,” he told reporters at its groundbreaking ceremony today.The project, costing RM216 million, is being financed by Bank Rakyat, a development financial institution under the entrepreneur and cooperatives development ministry, which is funding 80% of the project.It adopts a built-operate-transfer model, under which contractor Inya Engineering Sdn Bhd will construct and operate the facility for 30 years before transferring ownership to the Penang Water Supply Corporation.Earlier, in his speech, Chow said Penang was working to diversify its raw water sources to include Sungai Kerian, Sungai Perai and Sungai Perak under the state’s Water Contingency Plan 2030.Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow (centre) being briefed on the new water treatment plant at Sungai Kerian. (Facebook pic)He said this was aimed at reducing the state’s dependency on Sungai Muda, which originates in Kedah.“After the painful lesson (in 2024) when Sungai Muda was polluted and turbidity levels were so high that we could not treat the water, we do not want to put all our eggs in one basket,” he said.Chow also said Penang was developing more water treatment plants, including one in Mengkuang, Bukit Mertajam, which is scheduled for completion in November.He said the additional plants would reduce the state’s reliance on the Sungai Dua plant in Tasek Gelugor, which currently supplies treated water to 85% of the state’s water users.
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