Department mulls Bukit Sepanggar pump-house upgrade
Published on: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
By: Sidney Skinner
The occupants of this house in the Parklane area filling up their empty containers with treated water delivered by the Department’s tanker.
The Water Department plans to upgrade the equipment at its Bukit Sepanggar pumphouse to boost the supply being drawn into the agency’s storage tanks in this part of Manggatal.A Department spokesman said the declining water levels inside these receptacles had given rise to the shortage which consumers at Seri Maju Apartments, Paklane and Taman Indah Permai had been experiencing, on and off, for the past week.
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“The pressure of the tap-water was low at some of the affected premises while, not even a drop was available at others,” he said.
He said there were two pumps – one for daily use, the other on standby – at the Bukit Sepanggar property, which allowed around 2 million litres of water to enter the tanks daily.
The agency’s staff checks on the supply at the Bukit Sepanggar storage tanks.
“Off late, we have noticed that the demand from consumers in the area has exceeded the supply.”
Owing to this, he said, the Department was looking into the possibility of replacing the pumps with those of a stronger horsepower so that an additional 0.5 million litres might be pulled into the tanks.
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“We are in the midst of putting together the necessary paperwork to acquire new pumps.
“We intend to phase out the existing devices in stages. We hope to do away with the one used on a day-to-day basis later this year before having the other pump removed too.”
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In the meantime, the agency had taken to diverting the supply to the affected properties, in turn, to ensure that its consumers received some tap-water, according to him.
On top of this, he said, the agency’s tankers had been deployed to send treated water to some of these residential areas.
“Three of our 9,800 litre-tankers have been going to homes in Parklane, which are occupied, daily over the past few days.”
The spokesman said the Department was also keeping an eye on the condition of the pumps at Bukit Sepanggar.
He said special attention would be given to manually reactivating the one used daily, if this became necessary.
“The staff, tasked with doing this, has been asked to be more mindful of any electricity disruptions in the area and to make his way to our pumphouse, as soon as he can, after the power comes back.
“In some instances, he may be required to switch on the pump after the electricity has been restored.”
He explained that the pump operated on an automated system.
“A sensor is supposed to switch the pumps off, when the water levels in the tanks are low, and switch them on, when the levels next reach the required height.”
The spokesman was responding to grouses from a Parklane homeowner and a Seri Maju apartment-dweller about the dry taps at their respective premises.
The spokesman said its staff checked on the distribution mains leading to these residential areas shortly after being contacted by the media.
“At the time, they confirmed that a supply was entering the Bukit Sepanggar storage tanks,” he said.
“Water was also reaching the bulk-metre for the Apartments and the pressure was found to be acceptable.”
He admitted that the situation was less optimistic in Parklane as the pipes before the complainant’s meter were empty.
The Department’s staff would, nevertheless, keep tabs on the supply at both properties to ensure that its consumers received tap water, according to him.
ANISSA, who lives along Lorong Bukit Sepanggar, bemoaned the inconvenience caused by the lack of water in her house.
“The reserves in my storage tank are almost depleted. I have been conserving this water so that I can use my toilets,” she said.
“I have not been taking my meals at home as I have been unable to cook, let alone clear the pile of dirty dishes in my sink, without water.”
Anissa said that this was not the first time that the taps in her home had run dry.
“The supply has proven unreliable several times already this year.
The pressure of the water in the pipes leading to the Apartments was found to be acceptable.
“Even when water is available, the pressure is so weak that the little that trickles in reminds me of a young child’s urine stream.”
Anissa said she and her neighbours had contacted the Department on numerous occasions about their water woes.
GERTRUDE, who occupies an upper floor unit, expressed her displeasure about the erratic supply at the apartments.
She claimed that, initially, her tap water had been reduced to a trickle. After a day, she said not a drop was available.
“It is very inconvenient as my taps have run dry for the past five days,” she said.
“Only the sound of air moving can be heard when the taps are turned on.
“From time to time, me and my family travel to my in-law’s place in Likas just to bathe and use the toilet there.”
Gertrude said she had contacted the Department and management company for Seri Maju several times about her supply woes but the situation had yet to improve.
“It is very stressful to live at the apartments under these circumstances.”
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