TAWAU: The State Government, through the Sabah State Water Department, is urged to take drastic and phased measures to identify old water pipes and allocate specific funds to replace aging pipes as an effort to address the water crisis here.
Sabah DAP committee member, Philip Yap, said that replacing old water pipes would not only reduce the incidence of water supply disruptions in Tawau but also help minimise losses from Non-Revenue Water (NRW), which is water lost due to leaks that ultimately burden the department.
He said that long-term solutions should be prioritised over temporary repairs in order to ensure a stable water supply and the well-being of the people in the district.
This is because, he said, water supply problems in Tawau are not new but have persisted year after year.
“Recently, the district once again faced several incidents of water supply disruption caused by pipe bursts, which affected the daily lives of residents.
“The frequent water supply disruptions are mostly due to leaking or burst pipes caused by high water pressure, a situation worsened by the age of the water pipes in Tawau, most of which have been in use for 30 years or more,” he said on Friday.
Philip said pipes that had been in use for too long are no longer able to withstand high water pressure.
According to him, when leaks or bursts occur, it not only disrupts residents in housing areas but also has a significant impact on business premises, especially eateries that rely heavily on water as a basic operational resource.
He added that the frequent water supply disruptions affect the operations of food businesses, particularly in the still-challenging economic situation.
“Without a water supply, businesses have to cease operations, and losses are borne by the business owners,” he said.
He noted that old residential areas and older commercial zones should also receive immediate attention because the water pipes in these areas are at high risk of leaks, given that the piping systems are over three decades old.
