By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 1: Residents and businesses in Sibu are frustrated as an eight-hour delay in repairing a leaking 750mm mild steel main pipe at Jalan Salim has caused widespread water supply disruptions since yesterday (Feb 28).
The Sibu Water Board (SWB) initiated urgent repairs on the leaking pipe at 10pm yesterday, estimating the work to take approximately nine hours, with completion expected by 7am today.
However, in a statement, SWB explained that the delay was caused by damage to utility cables during excavation in front of the Foochow Association building.
As a result, the repair work had to be put on hold to allow the respective utility providers to conduct necessary repairs, delaying the water main repairs by an estimated eight hours.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting, in a social media update, explained that while repairs are underway, workers are still pumping out water before sealing the crack.
“The trench is more than 10 feet deep, and the leak is on a section of the pipe that has never been repaired before, making it more complex. SWB’s senior manager has informed me that the work will take longer than expected,” he said, assuring the public of further updates on the progress.
SWB attributed the leak to soil settlement and stressed that failing to carry out these critical repairs could lead to catastrophic pipe failure, resulting in prolonged water disruptions affecting thousands of residents and businesses.
If left unattended, the leak could worsen, causing infrastructure damage, road collapse, and water contamination.
The water supply disruptions are impacting several areas, including:
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- Jalan Stabau/Jalan Kong Yit Khim to Jalan Nibong Tada and Durin
- Jalan Salim to Jalan Pedada/Jalan Dr Wong Soon Kai
- Jalan Ling Kai Cheng to the Ling Kai Cheng/Ulu Sungai Merah traffic light intersection
- Jalan Lada to Sibu town and all village areas
- Jalan Brooke Drive to Jalan Teng Chin Hua
- Jalan Quarry to Jalan Pasai Siong
- Jalan Wawasan to Bawang Assan
- Jalan Teku Lama to Jalan Ding Lik Kong
SWB apologised for the inconvenience and appealed for public patience and cooperation. The board assured that repair work will resume as soon as the affected utilities complete their repairs.
For information, the public can contact SWB Hotline at 013-810311. — DayakDaily
