Villagers complain of unclean water from treatment system
MIRI: Residents of Uma Akeh, a longhouse in Baram, are very doubtful about the quality of water produced by their water treatment system.
What sparked their worry is that water from the tap has recently turned smelly and not crystal clear like it used to be. They doubt whether the water is safe for consumption and other needs.
Unsure of the quality of the water, the residents have stopped consuming the water produced by the system.
This prompted them to approach Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau for help when he visited Uma Akeh recently.
“Uma Akeh is among the longhouses and kampongs in Telang Usan and Baram in general to be provided with treated water treatment as it is costly to provide them with treated water from either Miri or Marudi,” Dennis told The Borneo Post.
He said it was a move by the government to improve the quality and standard of living of the community living in the interior.
“I was made to understand that the system was fixed in 2013 by an appointed contractor. The contractor was supposed to service and maintain the system on a yearly basis and to replace some of the parts after three years,” said Dennis.
He added that he also received similar complaints from other kampongs and longhouses in Telang Usan constituency.
“I also received complaints that the system was not fixed properly and not according to specification, making it not functioning. I urge the relevant agency to do follow-up service on the water treatment system provided to various longhouses in Telang Usan,” he said.