KOTA KINABALU: Ageing pipes are behind the water disruptions affecting consumers in and around the Sabah capital recently.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said the Sabah Water Department (JANS) had detected leakages on a number of pipelines, especially the old ones.
Shahelmey, who is also state Works Minister, said the ageing pipes were unable to cope with frequent heavy water usage which causes fluctuations in water pressure.
“When there are frequent pressure changes, it disrupts the system and causes leaks," he said, after launching a road safety campaign in conjunction with Christmas in the southwestern Sipitang district on Tuesday (Dec 17).
“The leaks are partly due to our extensive use of old pipes.
“There indeed has been a drop in water pressure in Kota Kinabalu,” he said, adding JANS has been monitoring the situation for the past several days because of high demand.
Shahelmey added his team was monitoring several locations here that have been identified to have the issue.
To remedy the problem, he said, JANS working with water concessionaire Jetama Sdn Bhd were distributing water to affected areas.
