SANDAKAN – As incredible as it may sound, water supply for the whole of Sandakan district has been dependent on just two old water pumps at the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant here, since the third one stopped working in February of last year.
A source working in the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant told The Vibes that the pumps may look good on the outside, but they more than 10 years old and have been breaking down more often.
The third pump has stopped functioning and requires a long-term repair before it can work again.
The source said even though only two pumps are needed for optimum water pressure and supply in the district, a third pump is needed in case maintenance or repair work needs to be conducted on any of the two pumps.
According to Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong, there are four sites to place four water pumps in the Segaliud plant, but now, it is down to three.
“Of course, for the Sandakan district to be dependent on only two pumps 24-7, they are prone to be problematic due to overwork,” he said.
The previous state government had purchased a new pump from Japan in August last year. However, due to one delay after another, the pump is only scheduled to reach Sandakan in June this year.
Sandakan – with a current population estimated of about 380,000 people – has been experiencing water supply disruption for years.
Since there are only two working pumps in Segaliud now, when one is being repaired, the other is not able to provide the required pressure to supply water to the whole district, thus the frequent disruptions.
The water disruption faced by people here in the last two weeks is an example.
Residents here have been facing low water pressure problems, with residential units located on higher ground not getting water for days.
Last week, state Works Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said that his ministry is closely monitoring the current repair works of the faulty pump here, which is expected to be completed by today.
While the state government under Warisan had last year taken the initiative to purchase a new pump for the district, will Sandakan see the installation of the pump under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah? – The Vibes, January 9, 2021
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