By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, June 19: Assistant Minister of Water Supply Datuk Liwan Lagang says the salty water experienced by Kampung Tengah Beladin residents was due to saline intrusion into the raw water intake in Beladin.
“The issue is expected to be resolved within two months from now once the pipeline project from Kaki Wong to Beladin is fully connected. JBALB (Rural Water Supply Department) Betong will arrange to supply treated water to Beladin,” Liwan told DayakDaily today.
On the disruption of treated water supply to Kampung Spinang in Pusa, Liwan said it was due to the ‘Raw Water Pump – Lost Prime’ at the Maludam Water Treatment Plant on June 11.
‘Lost prime’ means a significant amount of air is trapped in the system such that it can no longer pump correctly.
Liwan said arrangements were made to repair the raw water pump on the same day, and the repair work was completed on June 13.
“Although the repair work for raw water pump at Maludam Water Treatment Plant was completed on June 13, the recovery of water distribution might take some time to stabilise.
“And as Kampung Spinang is located at the end point of water supply, it will only be restored slowly,” explained Liwan.
As a temporary solution, JBALB Betong had arranged to send water tankers to the village from June 13.
“JBALB will continuously send water tankers until the water shortage problem is solved and water supply to the village is back to normal,” he assured.
Kampung Spinang resident Nur Giselle had contacted DayakDaily on June 17, complaining that her village was experiencing dry taps.
She said the nightmare started a week before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and about 30 families were affected. A week before June 17, the situation got worse when all Kampung Spinang folks were on their knees.
Apart from voicing out the water shortage problem in her own village, Nur Giselle also brought up the issue faced by Kampung Tengah Beladin, where the tap water was salty. — DayakDaily
