KOTA KINABALU: The Urgent Water Supply Scheme (UWSS) project at the Telibong II treatment plant is unable to fully commence because of land issues, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
He said the plant is scheduled for completion next month but pipe-laying works have yet to start.
“The Public Works Department (JKR) and Sabah Water Department are now negotiating the right of way to lay the pipes,” he said at a Hari Raya open house hosted by Muhibbah Dua (M) Sdn Bhd here on Tuesday (May 9).
ALSO READ: Request for allocation to tackle Sabah’s water woes
“With the completion of the treatment plant, water can be channelled using the old pipes but it will not be at full capacity until the new pipes are laid,” added Shahelmey, who is also state Works Minister.
Construction of the Telibong II water treatment plant in Tamparuli, about 40km north of the state capital, was already delayed as it was to have been completed last year.
With the delay in the laying of the new pipes, consumers in the state’s west coast would still have to bear with supply disruptions until the work is completed.
“I have been monitoring this, and I hope (the pipe-laying works) will be done very soon,” Shahelmey added.
ALSO READ: Sandakan villagers gather to protest frequent water woes
On the tender process for Phase 2 of the Kogopon water plant, aimed at alleviating water woes towards Kota Kinabalu's south in the Putatan and Papar districts, he said a contractor has been awarded the project.
Asked about the quickest solution to the water supply problem, he said: “We have to wait for all these things. Of course, the firefighting solution is to transfer water by using tanker lorries but that is not a very good practice.
“Of course (I understand) the people are frustrated but this is the situation we are facing.
“We want to improve (the situation) and also get the construction of dams to be decided,” Shahelmey said, referring to the Papar Dam, about 40km south-west of the state capital, and Ulu Tomani in interior Sabah.
ALSO READ: Water woes continue to cripple many Sabahans’ lives
Feasibility studies for both projects were currently being carried out.
“(The dams) would determine our water supply in future. My advice to consumers when we do the water rationing exercises, is please store some water,” he said.
He added that the Sabah Water Department was also trying to cut down on non-revenue water (NRW) through leakages by placing sensors in its pipe networks.
He said the department aimed to improve the detection of leakages and reduce NRW significantly.
