Kota Kinabalu: Life Water Industries Sdn Bhd, a bottled drinking water manufacturer, is again experiencing a major disruption in the supply of treated water for its manufacturing operations at Industrial Zone 8, KKIP, the company said in a statement.
According to the company, the last water disruptions for this year happened last January and July.
From Aug 21 till today, the water supply to the manufacturing plant had been erratic, it added.
The company is worried it may disrupt daily operations in the area.
Total hours of water disruption logged since Jan is 451 hours, with each disruption lasting from five hours to 65 hours due to several reasons given by the water authority such as low water pressure, rationing, pipe connection, electricity supply issue, changing SIV meter and emergencies due to leaked pipes.
Some water supply disruptions were scheduled and some were unscheduled.
There had been instances where water supply was cut even before the scheduled date of water disruption.
Life Water Industries said with this current scenario of water supply disruption and the frequency with which it occurred, coupled with the rising demands of treated water due to the State’s industrial as well as residential development, it is worrisome for manufacturers, especially one where treated water is its lifeline.
The company pointed out that alternative source of treated water is often unable to cope with the manufacturing plant’s capacity besides being very costly.
Machines are idle, so are the manpower during a water supply disruption situation.
Water manufacturing is a highly competitive market, the risk of losing to competitors increases when customers are not able to get their products promptly and consistently.
With these consequences affecting the industries that mostly run 24 hours in the KKIP areas, Life Water Industries calls for urgent attention of the relevant authorities to seriously look into mitigating or addressing the water shortage issues in the short and long term.
