KOTA KINABALU – The floods may have receded in some Sabah districts, but the nightmare continues for residents, who have gone days without clean water supply.
This has been the case for years whenever there are heavy rains, as the state Water Department is forced to shut down treatment plants due to rivers becoming especially muddy.
The affected rivers include Sg Moyog, a water source for many west coast districts, including the state capital here.
The rains cause sediment, and sometimes wood, to flow downriver, forcing water intakes to be shut down to prevent the debris from damaging equipment at the treatment plants.
Damage to the said equipment is costly to fix, and would see some areas going without clean water for weeks.
A resident of the Country Heights Apartment who wished to be identified only as Willie yesterday said the management has imposed water rationing for three days.
“This is the worst water problem I have experienced. The management, which is reselling treated water to us, should have given us an alternative source of water.
“At other residential apartments, the management provides an alternative. But not here,” he said, adding that it would be better if water authorities provided supply directly to consumers.
There are over 800 households at the Country Heights Apartment, where water supply is halted from 9pm to 4am, and again for a few hours in the daytime.
Flo, a nurse renting a unit here, described the rationing as “ridiculous”, as she cannot take a shower or do the laundry due to coming home from work only about 8pm.
“There’s barely time for me to do any of this when I reach home. Sometimes, I don’t get to shower at all.
“I also have to do all the household chores early, and by the time I have to go to work, I would be very tired.”
Sabah’s west coast has seen continuous downpours and flooding for over a week.
Water cuts have been recorded in Tawau, Sipitang, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Lok Kawi, Sandakan, Kudat, Kunak and Keningau, said the state Water Department.
Its director, Edward Lingkapo, confirmed to The Vibes that treatment plants in the affected districts have had to halt operations due to rivers’ high turbidity since January 18.
Two days ago, a resident of the Cyber City Apartments near Kapayan said his area, too, was subjected to rationing.
“Although, the rationing lasted only a day, it was enough to make us suffer,” said Maurice Aken, who is among the thousands living in the residential area.
The Vibes has reached out to state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun for comment, but yet to receive a response. – The Vibes, January 22, 2021
