Papar: The Kabang Water Intake Upgrading Project here has now reached 94 per cent physical progress, with a 21-day Acceleration Plan being implemented to complete the remaining critical works. Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said he, together with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Papar Member of Parliament, inspected the project's progress today, particularly the final works at the intake area.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 21-day Acceleration Plan had begun, with the first three days of work involving draining the pond and constructing the intake structural wall. Armizan emphasized the need to complete this plan to avoid ongoing issues in the future. The priority remains to ensure the project is completed on schedule while minimizing impact on the community.
The project, which started on March 10, 2025, aims to upgrade the Kabang Intake's capacity from nine million litres to 30 million litres per day. This upgrade will provide an alternative raw water source for the Limbahau Water Treatment Plant (LRA) and the Emergency Water Supply Scheme (EWSS) LRA. The upgraded intake will be crucial when salinity levels, turbidity, or ammonia content affect the water source at the Limbahau intake.
Armizan noted that the project faced constraints, including weather conditions, river levels, and the state of the raw water source. On-site work was previously halted for 46 days due to salinity issues and 71 days due to rain. He stated that under certain circumstances, the existing Kabang Intake must continue operating to ensure an uninterrupted raw water supply to both treatment plants.
The remaining four per cent of the project involves critical components necessary for the upgraded capacity to become operational. This includes the construction of the pump station, installation of pumps, pipe connections, and system testing. The first 16 days of the Acceleration Plan require draining the pond, rendering the existing intake unusable during this period.
Operations of the Kabang Intake will be temporarily suspended from day 17 to day 19 to facilitate pipe connection work to the Limbahau LRA. The final two days are allocated for system testing and commissioning. Armizan assured that the temporary closure of the Kabang Intake need not lead to water supply disruptions, as the Limbahau LRA and the EWSS can continue operating with raw water from the Limbahau Intake, provided the water quality remains suitable.
However, he cautioned that if chloride levels render the raw water unsuitable for treatment, water production might decrease, potentially causing low pressure or temporary supply disruptions in some areas.