TREATED water is being delivered to several Luyang neighbourhoods along Jalan Maktab Gaya and Jalan Kebajikan while the Water Department deliberates over a feasible restoration plan for its pump-house in the former area.
Seven balancing tanks, as well as both the duty and standby pumps, are housed at the installation.
A spokesman for the agency said five of these tanks and the pumps were damaged during a landslide which occurred in the Gaya College area in the middle of September.
“A proposal for the repairs to the pump-house has been drawn up and submitted to the Department’s upper management,” he said. “Our superiors are in the process of looking over this plan.
“While waiting for a decision to be made, one of our tankers has been going regularly to the affected housing areas, including Taman Lumaku, Taman Seri Gaya and Taman Seri Menanti.”
“A hose is extended from the vehicle to the ground tanks of homes here.”
In cases where these receptacles were placed in the backyard – which was difficult for the tanker to access – he said consumers were forced to bring their empty containers to the tanker and carry them back to their premises.
The spokesman said the Department was presently depending on the two remaining balancing tanks at the pump-house to supply consumers in this part of Luyang.
He said a temporary pump had been placed on the grounds to facilitate this effort.
“The pump is working flat out but we have noticed that there is insufficient pressure to push the water to some of the affected homes.
“This is especially so for those premises which have been built on higher ground or are located towards the end of the distribution line.”
Owing to this, tap water was not available round the clock, according to him.
“The supply is intermittent at best and comes in for around 18 hours daily in some instances.”
Given the “very slow recovery”, he said the Department’s staff had been monitoring the water situation in this part of Luyang.
“Our technicians have been going around Lorong Tenggiling, Jalan Kuda and Jalan Maktab Gaya to check on the condition of our mains along these roads.
“When it warrants doing so, flushing is performed to clear any airlocks which form in our distribution line.”
The agency’s action was prompted by feedback from a Taman Lumaku homeowner, and another from Taman Seri Gaya about the month-long water woes which they had been experiencing.
The first consumer said a ribbon of water flowed from the taps in his front yard on some occasions, while the other said a trickle was available “for a few minutes” once or twice a day.
Meanwhile, the Department has also been keeping an eye on the condition of the equipment at its Bukit Sepanggar pumphouse in Manggatal.
The spokesman 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 a complaint from a Taman Indah Permai resident who lost her supply for a few days recently.
She tried contacting the Department’s Careline to ask about what was happening in the neighbourhood, but claimed the number was either engaged or went unanswered, when she called.
The spokesman said a problem with the daily pump was to blame for the difficulties the consumer experienced.
“Our technicians have since resolved this problem,” he said. “They checked on the condition of the main pipe leading to the homeowner’s meter on the same day that we were contacted by the media.”
He said the agency’s staff confirmed that the supply was reaching the device.
“The pressure of the water, at the time, was deemed to be acceptable.”
Nevertheless, the spokesman said it would keep tabs on the supply to the housing area, from time to time, to ensure that its consumers there received tap water.
