Alternate supply sends clean water to Bakong folk
The water woes affecting Beluru district since last week ended Sunday a er the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) switched the water source to the alternative supply from Miri through Bukit Song.
MIRI: The water woes affecting Beluru district since last week ended Sunday after the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) switched the water source to the alternative supply from Miri through Bukit Song.
JBALB Sarawak director Chang Kuet Shin confirmed yesterday that treated water supply to the district had resumed at 3pm that day following the switch, which began earlier at 10am.
“An investigation concluded that the cause (of disruption) is due to high odour and coloured water from Sungai Bakong water intake, possibly due to heavy rain and flood,” he said.
thesundaypost had frontpaged the plight of teachers and students of SK Bakong and SMK
Bakong who had to depend on a roadside self- service water kiosk for their daily water supply over a period of three days after their taps began dispensing smelly yellowish water.
Residents in the Bakong area were similarly hit, with Kampung Melayu Beluru headman Jeparali Tiong revealing the problem had been ongoing for about a month despite community leaders having voiced out the matter to the authorities on numerous occasions.
Chang said the alternative supply was a result of the ongoing water grid development programme undertaken by JBALB, with the department having to accelerate the switch due to the situation.
He added JBALB will make contingency plans to overcome possible low water pressure due to the long distribution lines and digging mishaps by contractors which will affect the distribution system.
In a statement issued Sunday, the department said a team deployed to the site had tackled the issue, and that water supply at the affected areas had improved with low water pressure expected by the same evening.
The incident meanwhile drew the ire of Local Government and Housing Assistant Minister Datu Dr Penguang Manggil.
The Marudi assemblyman had urged JBALB to immediately address the issue as per its standard operating procedure, and in line with the state civil service motto of becoming a ‘world class’ civil service.
An investigation concluded that the cause (of disruption) is due to high odour and coloured water from Sungai Bakong water intake, possibly due to heavy rain and flood.
Chang Kuet Shin