Universiti Malaysia Sabah geologist Dr Felix Tongkul said the water in the mining pool was acidic and treating it for human consumption would be too expensive an operation, The Star Online reported today.

Last week, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan said authorities were looking at the possibility of treating the contaminated water at the Mamut copper mine pit, in a bid to overcome the water shortage in the state caused by the drought.

Felix said even though the water could be treated with limestone to neutralise its acidity, the water still contained other minerals and heavy metals, that made it unfit for human consumption.

The mining pool contains 20.6 million cubic metres of water.

Pairin previously cautioned that if the drought in the state stretched beyond July, Sabah’s water supply would reach critical levels.

The state Infrastructure Development Minister had said the Water Department was now deploying its tankers, as well as privately-owned ones, to villages that were badly affected.

He said the department was preparing to send water via barges to Banggi Island and Sebatik Island, which were the worst hit.

Other districts badly affected by the drought are Pitas and Kuala Penyu.