The water problem in Kelantan is becoming more acute due to the current dry spell which causes the water level of Sungai Kelantan to drop below the operational level at the water intake of three main

water treatment plants in the state.

Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) head of operations and customer service, Mohd Asri Awang, said the affected water plants were at Kampung Kelar in Pasir Mas, Kampung Tualang in Kuala Krai and in Tumpat.

"The latest is the plant at Kampung Tualang which became paralysed three days ago when the pump at the water intake could not function because the river water has receded to a very low level," he told Bernama here today.

He said 4,334 AKSB subscribers, involving about 21,000 residents in Kuala Krai town, Guchil, Sungai Durian and Batu Lada would be affected by the water shortage.

Mohd Asri said the treatment plant at Kampung Kelar which channelled water supply to some 38,000 consumers in the Pasir Mas and Tumpat districts was also affected.

However, he said measures had been taken by AKSB to address the problem.

"AKSB, with the cooperation of the Drainage and Irrigation Department, has installed pumps to raise the water level at the water intake to the plants," he added.

He advised the public, especially in the affected areas, to use water

sparingly to avoid the situation from becoming worse.

However, he said, the operation of treatment plants which obtained its water supply from underground water, like in Kota Baharu, Bachok, Pasir Puteh and Machang, were not affected.

- Bernama