KOTA KINABALU: The water supply disruption in Tawau was raised at the Sabah cabinet meeting last Wednesday to ensure immediate action is taken to help affected residents.
Sabah youth development, sports advancement and creative economy minister Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, who raised the matter, said dry weather and a prolonged lack of rain have affected raw water sources, disrupting treatment operations and distribution since last week.
"I raised this problem at the cabinet meeting because I understand the difficulties faced by affected residents.
“Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor has also directed the state works and utilities ministry to have the Tawau water department take proactive action.
"This includes intensifying water deliveries by tanker lorries to affected areas. Sabah works and utilities minister Dr Joachim Gunsalam has assured that the issue is being monitored and capacity mobilised to help affected residents," he said in a statement here today.
According to Nizam, the Tawau water department’s latest data showed that the Utara water treatment plant remains affected due to raw water quality problems from Sungai Tawau.
"Although there has been rain, the rainfall in the catchment area is still insufficient to significantly raise the river level and allow water treatment operations to recover fully.
He said water deliveries will continue according to current operational capacity, with better coordination to ensure affected areas receive due attention.
Nizam said the water supply problem cannot be taken lightly as it involves the people's basic needs and affects households on a daily basis.
"I will be in touch with the ministry and water department to get the latest developments on the situation and ensure the needs of affected residents continue to be addressed," he said.