SANDAKAN: Sandakan’s water supply crisis has now entered its 13th consecutive day, seriously disrupting the lives of about 2,000 families here.
In response, the ADUN Karamunting Task Force under Karamunting assemblyman Datuk George Hiew Vun Zin has successfully advocated for authorities to implement a short-term measure, introducing scheduled water distribution to mitigate the ongoing challenges.
The task force’s representatives, Yap Hsiu Min and Tommy Yap, met with the Sandakan Water Department today to get a comprehensive explanation of the current situation from the department’s engineer, Alchemy Lobo October M. Sabin, along with representatives from the Sandakan Municipal Council.
It was learnt that the water shortage has hit Jalan Leila, Bandar Ramai Ramai, Bandar Leila, Bandar Nam Tung, and neighbouring areas particularly hard. In addition to facing low water pressure, the Hilltop Water Treatment Plant’s wells have completely dried up, exacerbating the situation.
According to engineer Alchemy, the water supply in Karamunting area is currently reliant on emergency water supplies from treatment plants in Kinabatangan and Segaliud. This has placed tremendous pressure on Sandakan’s overall water supply system.
To tackle the crisis, the authorities have developed both short-term and long-term solutions for the three affected areas in Karamunting.
The short-term plan involves introducing scheduled water rationing, while the long-term strategy focusses on installing water pumps at suitable locations. However, progress has stalled due to pending approval from the Sandakan Municipal Council, as the plan requires the use of council-owned land.
Yap Hsiu Min stressed the critical need for immediate action, urging that the water supply for the three affected areas be restored promptly.
“The ongoing water shortage has severely disrupted the daily lives of our residents, and a timely solution is imperative,” he stated.
