Checks on leaks in Kinarut; supply in Inanam
Published on: Wednesday, December 21, 2022
By: Sidney Skinner
Water Department personnel in the midst of repairing the damaged six inch AC pipe.
THE Water Department is trying to proactively prevent its distribution mains in Kinarut from springing any leaks and is keeping tabs on the supply to an Inanam neighbourhood.This action follows complaints about the erratic supply in Kg Lengkuas, near the former town, and in Taman BDC.ADVERTISEMENT
A consumer from the village and two others from Inanam furnished Hotline with their particulars, including the dates when they were without tap water. This information was forwarded to the agency.
Another Department technician repairs the meter-stand in front of this Inanam house.
A Department spokesman said its staff had stepped up efforts to check on the condition of the main pipes servicing Kinarut.
“This is being done to minimise the likelihood of pipe-bursts disrupting the supply in some parts of the town,” he said.
Nevertheless, given as how the district encompassed an extensive area, he said it was often difficult for the agency’s staff to be everywhere at once.ADVERTISEMENT
“To this end, we hope consumers will inform us directly of any irregularities involving our main pipes, especially any damage to these installations, so that action can be taken to deal with these problems as soon as possible.”
The spokesman said such damage caused a water shortage in one part of Kinarut earlier this week.
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He said a 168-millimetre pipe along a housing road in the Ketiau area was found to have sprung a leak on Monday.
“Emergency repairs on the Asbestos cement (AC) pipe were initiated shortly after this problem came to light.
“We suspect that this section of the supply line may have become ‘uzur (worn down)’ due to wear and tear as it was installed years ago.”
He said the supply to the residential and commercial areas in the vicinity was temporarily shut off that morning to allow the Department’s technicians to deal with the damaged AC pipe.
An excavator was deployed to facilitate their efforts, according to him.
Despite having completed the repairs later that same afternoon, the spokesman anticipated it would take between two to three days for sufficient pressure to build up in the mains.
Water spilling out onto this Ketiau housing road because of the burst main beneath the verge.
“Consumers living and working closer to the distribution mains may not have to wait so long.
“Those whose homes and shops are located on higher ground or towards the end of the supply-line, on the other hand, are only likely to regain their supply after the third day.”
A notice about the burst was circulated over social media, according to him.
Besides those in the Kg Lengkuas, the other areas impacted by the burst included Taman Villa Saujana, Taman Lengkuas, Taman Wajar and the Lok Kawi Army Camp.
Among the affected commercial properties were the Lengkuas and Kuil Industrial estates, as well as units around the Desa Patrol and Kota Baru shops.
“We have been implementing a rationing exercise for the past two months to allow consumers at these different locations to receive enough water.”
He said they were supposed to receive a supply between 10pm–5am, three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Earlier this month, a “by-pass” was also put in place along the section of the distribution line near the Lok Kawi Camp to push more water to the affected properties, according to the spokesman.
“This has improved the pressure, allowing those living at an elevation to get tap water.”
On the problems in Inanam, he said the Department would step up efforts to maintain its fixtures and pipes along housing roads in Taman BDC.
“Leaks at two meter-stands in separate parts of the neighbourhood was to blame for the intermittent supply which the respective homeowners experienced.”
“Our maintenance contractor attended to both problems shortly after we heard from the media.”
He said the water pressure at the two homes was checked after the repairs were completed.
“The strength of the water in our supply-line was found to be acceptable, in both instances.”
The irregularities in Taman BDC were inadvertently triggered by action to install new water meters in the neighbourhood, according to him.
He explained that, over the course of the year, the agency had gradually been phasing out some 30,000 meters around the State Capital.
“This is being done as the existing meters may be providing inaccurate readings.”
Notices were sent to select home and business owners, as early as March, to inform them that their meters were going to be replaced, according to him.
“The older meters have a life span of seven years. Wear and tear starts to take a toll on them once they exceed this period.”
SAMS, who lives in Kg Lengkuas, as well as Taman BDC homeowners LIM and TEOH, bemoaned the dry taps at each of their premises.
Sams had gone seven days without a supply by the time he contacted Hotline, while Lim and Teoh lost theirs regularly for a few hours, on and off, over the same period.
Each of the affected consumers had wearied of highlighting their predicament to the Department as the water situation in their separate areas had yet to improve.
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