GEORGE TOWN: The Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS) will be conducted in phases and is expected to take between six and ten years to complete.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said its phased implementation is due to areas in northern Perak that draw water from the same source for agricultural purposes.
“As this is a treated water project, all activities will be conducted in Perak till the water is channeled to Penang.
There are many details that will be discussed, but it will be done in phases as there is an announcement that northern Perak has been selected as a new industrial hub, so there is a pressing need in the state as such a project cannot do well without water,” he told reporters here today, adding that the water tariff would be decided by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
He added that the project will be of high priority for Penang as the state is depending on a single source of raw water, the Sungai Muda in Kedah.
“Now we don’t need to spend to build plants, to cover the costs of (water) treatment because we’re consumers. The tariff will be high because it’s not raw water, but we won’t have any other expenditure to treat water,” he said following reports that the Perak state government has agreed to sell treated water to Penang after discussions held reached an agreement. – Bernama
