70,000 people in Labuan hit after river pollution shuts down treatment plant

 

The Lawa Gadong water treatment plant was shut down following the detection of water pollution at the intake point of Padas River, in Beaufort, Sabah. (Bernama pic)

LABUAN: More than 70,000 people in 25 villages here have been affected by water supply disruptions since Sunday.

This is due to their main source of water, Padas River, in Beaufort, Sabah, being polluted. This resulted in the Lawa Gadong water treatment plant being shut down.

Almost 20,000 account holders are affected.

The Labuan Water Supply Division (BBAL), said the plant operator, MK Services, had detected oil stains at the Padas River water intake.

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As a result, it had to temporarily shut down the treatment plant for cleaning work to be carried out.

The level at the main water tanks on this island, including at the Rancha-Rancha Industrial Zone, has declined drastically except in areas such as Sg Pagar/Sg Miri and Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus.

Consumers in the affected 25 villages and the Rancha-Rancha Industrial Zone have yet to receive water and are relying on supplies from water tanks. The food business in several areas has also been affected.

The Lawa Gadong water treatment operator conducted another analysis yesterday on the raw water at the Padas River intake and could not detect any more oil stains.

Following that, the treatment plant resumed operations to supply water to Labuan’s Pulau Enoe main distribution water tank. The level is now increasing.

Water supply recovery in the affected areas is expected to take 48 to 120 hours (two to five days) due to the refilling of the tanks, and also taking into account several water pipe bursts and leaks in several areas on the island. - FMT