APM Distributes 16,000 Litres Of Filtered Water Using Mobile System

IPOH, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- The Hilir Perak District Civil Defence Force (APM) has deployed the agency’s Mobile Water Filtration System (MWFS) for the first time to filter water for distribution to several areas in Perak affected by water supply disruptions.

Hilir Perak District civil defence officer Captain Mohd Affindi Ishak said that since yesterday, the machine, obtained from SIRIM Berhad (the Malaysian Standards and Industrial Research Institute), had filtered more than 16,000 litres of water sourced from Sungai Perak and several canals in the area.

“This is the first time the machine is being used, as it was originally purchased for disaster situations. For example, during floods, residents may lose electricity, and water pump stations may be inoperable. This machine runs on a generator, allowing it to draw and purify water directly.

“The system can produce 2,000 litres of water per hour. Since yesterday, we have been operating for about eight hours, from noon until midnight. We have filtered around 16,000 litres of water and distributed it to affected areas,” he said when contacted today.

He said eight personnel have been deployed to affected locations, and they aim to reach more areas.

Mohd Affindi said there are only three such machines in the country, with one stationed in Teluk Intan.

“Yesterday, our team distributed water to several areas until midnight, stopping only when Perak Water Board tankers arrived. This is an initial relief effort by APM to assist the public.

“As of today, the filtered water has been distributed to Taman Maharani, Jalan Maharajalela, Kampung Pengkalan Ara, Chenderong Balai and several villages in Langkap,” he said.

Yesterday, Perak Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said more than 50,000 consumers had been affected by water supply disruptions.

The affected areas include Jalan Tapah, Changkat Petai, Tanjung Keramat, Air Kuning, Sungai Kroh, Kampung Tersusun Air Kuning, Chenderong Kelubi, SMTD, Jalan Temoh Station and Temoh.

The disruption is believed to have been caused by a leak in the raw water pipeline from the Batu 7 Sungai Woh intake, which channels water to the Bukit Temoh Water Treatment Plant. The leak has persisted since Feb 4.

-- BERNAMA