KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah Works Ministry should repair all ageing pipes to resolve the non-revenue water (NRW) issue, in which over half of the treated water goes to waste statewide, said a SAPP leader here today.
SAPP deputy president Datuk Edward Dagul said the current NRW rate stood at 60% and, as a consequence, no matter how much water is produced, a big chunk will be lost at the distribution stage due to the old pipes.
He said there is no immediate need to build a dam that supposedly will cost over RM3 billion.
“This is simple common sense that we don’t need water engineers to figure out. What the water engineers need to do is to complete the task of preparing the contract work for the repairs and replacement of pipes.
“From information reliably made available to me, at least RM300 million is needed to repair and replace pipes for the next two years.
“These contract work, when allocated to many small and mid-sized water contractors, will also help spur the local economy. There is no immediate need for the mega-dam that supposedly will cost more than RM3 billion,” he said here today.
He said focusing on reducing at least 20% of the NRW rate will help save hundreds of millions of ringgit.
Meanwhile, Dagul urged the Sabah Water Department to consider building the Upper Padas Hydropower Dam as an alternative to the Papar Dam.
He said building the dam could be adapted to supply water to the southern parts of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Labuan and Beaufort.
The source of water at Upper Padas has been on the drawing board for a few years.
Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmy Yahya told reporters recently that a feasibility study is currently underway to look into the construction of two dams, namely the Papar Dam and Ulu Tomani Dam in Tenom.
He said the dams are the main criteria to resolve the long-standing water woes in many parts of Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Putatan and other areas. – The Vibes, April 3, 2024
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