KOTA KINABALU – As folks in Putatan continue to face a water shortage problem, the Sabah government has decided to enforce water rationing in the district as a short-term solution.
Sabah Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said the problem stems from the increase in Putatan’s population, causing the water supply to be insufficient for the districts’ demands.
He said his ministry and the Sabah Water Department have decided to enforce water rationing in the district to ensure that areas with low water pressure can also receive water for a designated duration.
He said that Putatan’s supply currently relies on the Moyog and Kasigui water treatment plants in Penampang but these are no longer sufficient for the district’s residents.
While the two plants are meant to produce about 215 million lpd, their current production has increased to roughly 238 million lpd, he added.
Shahelmey, who is also Putatan MP and Tanjung Keramat assemblyman, said this at a press conference after his meeting with Sabah Water Department representatives at the Putatan District Office today.
He said that the meeting was organised following Putatan residents’ constant complaints, which occur almost daily.
The population of Putatan, one of Kota Kinabalu’s satellite towns, was estimated to be around 100,000 in 2021.
The district’s water shortage may persist for the foreseeable future as Shahelmey said the only solution is to build more treatment plants and a dam.
“The Sabah Water Department and the state government have plans to build a water treatment plant and a dam. That will be decided in the future.
“Actually, a feasibility study is being conducted and the decision will be finalised by the Sabah cabinet,” he said.
Shahelmey advised Putatan residents to be alert to the rationing schedule so that they can collect water at the right time.
On the supply problem at the Platinum Apartment in Putatan, he said that it occurred because of technical issues with the balancing tank, and the department will contact the housing management to solve the issue. – The Vibes, December 14, 2022.
