A significant pipeline burst has plunged thousands of residents in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and Putatan into a water crisis, with many experiencing low pressure or complete outages for close to a week.
The rupture occurred in a 1,200mm pipeline near Skyline SIB along Jalan Penampang, a vital source for delivering 170 million liters of water daily.
The damage has resulted in an estimated 8% loss of water supply, exacerbating the situation.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III, Datuk Shahelmy Yahya, who also serves as the Public Works Minister, emphasized the urgency of the repairs.
“This is a critical infrastructure failure that demands immediate attention to restore essential services to our communities,” he told the BorneoVox on Wednesday.
The leak has been traced to a 250mm upstand washout pipe, with preliminary assessments suggesting that lateral loading pressure from the washout chamber may have caused the failure.
Repair operations are slated to commence on Friday, February 7, involving extensive excavation, precise leak detection, and comprehensive pipeline restoration.
The process is anticipated to span approximately 12 hours.
During the repair period, the Moyog Water Treatment Plant will operate at a reduced capacity, producing only 109 million liters per day—a 41% decrease from its standard output of 187 million liters.
Consequently, residents in affected areas, including Luyang, Kepayan, Inanam, Sembulan, Tanjung Aru, Damai, Likas, KK City Centre, Bukit Padang, Kolombong, Penampang Baru, Donggongon, Kobusak, Jalan Pintas, and Beverly Hills, are advised to prepare for continued water supply interruptions.
Approximately, 700,000 people will be affected by the disruption in these areas.
The Sabah Water Department (JANS) has mobilized water tankers to provide temporary relief to the most affected areas.
However, residents are strongly encouraged to store sufficient water in advance and practice prudent usage until full service is restored, said Shahelmy.
“Our technical teams are working tirelessly to expedite the repairs and minimize the impact on our citizens,” Shahelmy assured.
“We understand the severity of this disruption and are committed to restoring normalcy as swiftly as possible.”
In the interim, water rationing measures may remain in effect, with full recovery of supply expected within one to five days post-repair, depending on specific locations. – February 5, 2025.
