By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 8: Kuching Water Board (KWB) will make a third attempt to permanently repair a major water pipeline that is over 30 years old and supplies 20 per cent of Kuching’s treated water, with works scheduled to begin this Friday night (July 11).
The 1400mm Mild Steel Cement Lined (MSCL) pumping main located along Jalan Highfields Light Industrial near Jalan Batu Kawa sustained damage due to a collapsed concrete slab, prompting urgent repair action.
The works are scheduled to begin at 9pm on July 11 (Friday) and are expected to be completed by 7am on July 12 (Saturday).
This aging pipeline is critical to Kuching’s water supply system, delivering approximately 170 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water—serving areas such as Matang Jaya, Petra Jaya, Demak Laut, Semariang, JBALB-supplied zones, and nearby communities.
KWB revealed that previous repair efforts were hampered by several challenges like site constraints where limited space and unstable ground hindered safe and effective equipment deployment; technical compatibility where the ageing pipeline uses non-standard dimensions, and suitable fittings are not commercially available; and structural limitations where the pipe lies beneath a heavy concrete slab structure, requiring precise and safe removal before any repair work.
Consumers in the following areas are expected to experience low water pressure or no water supply during the repair works: Jalan Matang (Kubah Ria to Batu 9), Taman Sri Harmoni, Jalan Sungai Tengah, Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub, Jalan Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhamad Salahudin, Jalan Demak, Jalan Bako, Muara Tebas, Petra Jaya and surrounding JBALB areas.
During the recovery period, airlocks and discoloured (dirty) water may also occur.
KWB will mobilise water tankers to supply alternative water to affected areas and strongly advises consumers to store sufficient water before the scheduled repair window.
KWB is committed to restoring the system with minimal disruption and will continue to monitor progress closely.
“We thank the public for their patience and understanding as we work to stabilise this critical infrastructure,” it said in a statement today. — DayakDaily
