Demand exceeding capacity cause of water supply disruptions in Sabah - DCM

 

Water supply disruptions in Sabah, especially in northern Kota Kinabalu, are due to the current demand rate for treated water exceeding 221 million litres per day (MLD) compared to the normal capacity of 171 MLD, the state legislative assembly was told today.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Shahelmey Yahya, who is also state works minister, said a supply restoration programme was being carried out.

"Our short-term programme started last June until now, which is to regulate the water flow around Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran, coordinate and modify the flow balance because there are places where we find that there is pressure in the comfort zone and there are also areas with low water pressure.

"We restructured the water supply management and cut the direct connection where previously there was a direct transmission line from the tank to the main tank which caused pressure disturbances.

"The feedback is that it (situation) is gradually stabilising, but there are still areas with low water pressure," he said in response to an oral question from Darell Leiking (Warisan-Moyog) regarding plans to deal with water problems, especially at the Sabah Women's and Children's Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Shahelmey Yahya

Shahelmey also said old water pipes, especially 'asbestos cement pipes' which are over decades old, are being replaced in stages.

"We need to build dams and we request the cooperation of the state assembly members to support the effort to build dams for long-term water supply for Sabah," he said.

On the problem of water supply disruption at the Sabah Women and Children's Hospital, he said the water supply source that supplies water to the hospital area is through the Telibong water treatment plant II Phase I.

"Immediate action was taken by controlling the sluice valve to ensure equal water supply and increase the water pressure to the affected areas, especially the Sabah Women's and Children's Hospital.

“For now, the problem of water supply disruption at the hospital has been overcome," he said.

In addition, he said the upgrading of the Telibong water treatment plant II (phase II) is expected to be completed in early September 2023 and will be able to supply an additional 20 percent of treated water or an additional 16 MLD.

- Bernama