KOTA KINABALU: Consumers, particularly in the west coast area, in the state will have to bear with water supply disruptions until two proposed dam projects are completed, said Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
The Deputy Chief Minister cum state Works Minister said the feasibility studies for the Papar Dam, about 40km southwest of the state capital, and Ulu Tomani in interior Sabah, were currently being carried out.
“I can’t say approximately when (the water problem will be resolved) but as long as the dams are not built (the problem will persist),” he told reporters after an event here on Saturday (April 1).
Non government organisations and Opposition lawmakers had opposed the construction of the dam for various reasons including floods and possible displacement of villagers.
The dam, said to benefit the whole west coast from Beaufort to Kota Kinabalu, was first proposed at Moyog (Penampang) as the Kaiduan Dam project over 10 years ago, before being shifted to Papar.
Shahelmey said the completion of the Telibong 2 water treatment plant in Tamparuli, about 40km north of Kota Kinabalu, would somewhat alleviate the water situation but will not fully address the problem.
He said the supply demand far outweighed the State Water Department’s present ability to supply water, adding this was compounded by the delays to the work on the Telibong 2 and Kogopon water treatment plants.
“The Telibong 2 plant was supposed to be completed last year. But what’s more disappointing is that the laying of pipes to connect the plant to the water reservoirs have yet to start - this is the reason for the low water pressure in the Kota Kinabalu north area,” he said.
He noted the work on the plant is expected to be completed by June, adding he had instructed officials to expedite the pipe installation work.
“Likewise, in the Kota Kinabalu south area as well as Putatan and Papar, the tender process for the Kogopon plant has just been completed and work can only start after that,” Shahelmey said, adding this project was also initially earmarked for completion last year.
Asked why the delays occurred, he said: “I see that this boiled down to poor communication and project management.”
Another measure implemented by the Water Department, he said, was to reduce water loss and non-revenue water by installing sensors in their piping network.
“This will take until the end of this year. When the work is done, we can monitor the real-time water pressure at different areas.
“But for now, the immediate plan is to send water to affected housing areas. Consumers can call the department’s careline to request for water,” he said, urging, however, the people to be patient as they had limited water trucks.
“Another way to ensure almost all areas have water is carrying out scheduled water rationing,” Shahelmey said.
Towards this end, he said, water thefts have also been identified as a factor to the water shortage, adding such activities were rampant in the state particularly in the Sepanggar area.
He noted that the authorities have conducted operations to remove illegal water connections.
“But the challenge is that after our enforcement team leaves the area, the water thieves will restore the connections.
“So, a special committee must be formed that must not only include the Water Department but other agencies such as the Kota Kinabalu City Hall, Land and Survey Department and police, among others so we can minimise such activities,” Shahelmey said.
