SLIM RIVER: Thousands of residents in the Muallim district are experiencing disruptions to their water and electricity supplies following a water surge and the burst of the Sungai Geliting water intake weir.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the water supply disruption, which began yesterday, affects 70 per cent of some 12,000 account holders.
He said the issue arose because a large pipe, which is the main channel from the water treatment plant intake, broke due to a collapsed bridge.
"The bridge failed because it could not withstand the pressure from debris, including old trees carried by the floodwaters.
"We couldn't expedite the repairs because it happened at night, but today, Perak Water Board (PWB) has taken action by deploying tankers for initial assistance," he said.
Saarani said this in a press conference after visiting the collapsed bridge on Jalan Slim River-Behrang Ulu today.
He said the Sungai Geliting water treatment plant is currently out of service, but the Sungai Slim intake weir will be used to provide water for all account holders.
Meanwhile, Perak Water Board (PWB) general manager Lokman Abd Rahim said that PWB plans to use the Sungai Slim intake weir as a replacement since the Sungai Geliting intake weir is non-functional.
"We will use the Sungai Slim intake to supply water to all consumers in the district; in fact, it has a larger capacity.
"However, we need some time to perform maintenance work on the Sungai Slim intake weir, as it has not been used for a long time.
"If the pump and all systems function properly, the intake will supply water to all users by today. Currently, our team is addressing all issues," he said.
When asked how long it would take to repair the burst Sungai Geliting intake weir, he said it would be a lengthy process due to the significant damage to the main structure.
Yesterday, scores of people were left stranded after a burst dam in Kampung Ulu Slim, near Kampung Slim caused a powerful surge of water, flooding their homes.
The burst dam, which followed intense rainfall, also led to the collapse of three bridges.