Mambong villages urged to revive gravity feed water supply systems as backup plan

Dr Jerip (third left) speaking at the press conference.

By Jacob Achoi

KUCHING, Jan 25: Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil is calling on villages in his constituency which have gravity feed water supply systems to revive the said installations.

This, he said, would provide permanent and alternative water supply in case of interruptions in the supply of treated piped water.

“Here, I will like to call on the villages (in Mambong constituency), which have the gravity feed water supply system to enhance and (to implement) works to repair and improve the system be held on ‘gotong-royong’ to provide alternative water supply to your respective village in case of water supply interruption.

“And if you need funds, you may always write to my service centre,” Dr Jerip told reporters today at the Padawan sub-district office, at Bayur, Jalan Borneo Heights.

He said that funds for gravity feed water supply systems are also available via Sarawak Alternative Water Supply (Sawas).

According to Dr Jerip, who is the Assistant Minister of Transport, almost all villages in the Mambong constituency have gravity feed water supply systems, which were the main sources of water supply in the past for the said villages before coming under treated water supply coverage at present.

“The revival of the gravity feed system would help to solve water problems which are now experienced by several villages along Jalan Borneo Heights like Kg Emperoh Jambu, Kg Emperoh Karu, Kg Pengkalan Empat and Kg Abang, among others,” he asserted.

The press conference was also attended by senior officers from Kuching Water Board (KWB) and Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB).

The main issue concerns the current water woes faced by several villages in the constituency, particularly those located on higher ground. — DayakDaily