Wong (centre) expects the water shortage issue to be resolved by 2026 or 2027.
THE 46% non-revenue water (NRV) in Sibu is higher than the national average of 35%, resulting in insufficient water supply.
Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said the main cause of the high NRV was due to damaged underground main pipes.
Most of the town is located on peat soil, he said, adding that once the pipes sink to a certain level, they would break.
When this happened, the Sibu Water Board (SWB) had to repair them, resulting in a water supply interruption.
There were also old pipes that could not be located, especially in the rural area and under concrete roads, he said.
“What is produced, almost half is gone.
“Otherwise, we would have enough water,” he said after attending a briefing on the spate of water supply interruptions at SWB premises with his party members.
The briefing was conducted by SWB deputy general manager Lau Pon Yin.
Wong advised the people to use water “carefully and prudently”.
The Bawang Assan assemblyman also advised the public to have water tanks to store water.
He believed the frequent water supply disruptions would be tackled by either 2026 or 2027.
“The renewal of pipes and changing of pipes are being done.
“There are also going to be high-rise water tanks, one at the Ling Chu Ming Road, another one near the Bawang Asang longhouse and Dudong areas that will help to solve the problem,” he said.
SWB’s current capacity is about 195 million litres per day (MLD).
This include 150 MLD from the Salim water treatment plant and 45 MLD from the Bukit Lima Plant.
