Teow showing how low the water pressure is while using the garden hose at her house in Taman Selayang Baru.
Tmn Selayang Baru folk want old pipes replaced as promised
FOR 50 years, residents of Taman Selayang Baru in Selangor have been plagued by low water pressure, bringing them a lot of inconvenience.
According to some residents, there has been little progress to the pipe replacement proposed as a long-term solution.
In February, Taman Templer assemblyman Anfaal Saari had said that Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd would be spending about RM7mil to replace old pipes in the residential area, as this was identified as the reason for the low water pressure.
“The water pressure cannot be too high as the old pipes could burst,” she said in a video posted to her social media on Feb 19.
She added that the new pipes would be almost 7km long and 150mm in diameter.
However, Taman Selayang Baru residents and community activist Yee Poh Ping, who spoke on their behalf, said the replacement has been piecemeal.
Resident Safiah Abdul Wahab said pipes might not have been replaced for her residence, as the water pressure was still low.
“I need to store water in bottles for cooking, as the pressure during the day is too low to reach the water dispenser in my kitchen.
“I can only do chores such as laundry at night when water pressure returns to normal, because the washing machine requires higher water pressure to function properly,” she said.
Resident Teow Gaik Sim said the availability of water in her house was “on and off”.
“Some days I have water and some days I don’t.
Yee calls on Air Selangor to replace pipes at all houses in the neighbourhood.
“When the water pressure is low, it will usually last for a whole day and return to normal the next day,” she said, adding that she too stored water in bottles for low-pressure days.
A Chinese medicine store owner operating along Jalan Len Omnibus, identified only as Tan, said he installed a pump in his premises to ensure higher water pressure.
“Although the situation has improved slightly, the overall water pressure is still quite low.”
However, homeowner Khng Ian Huah said Air Selangor resolved his low water pressure issue last year by replacing pipes after he complained personally.
He added that some other residents who also complained personally got their pipes replaced.
Yee urged Air Selangor not to act only upon receiving complaints, but to replace pipes for every house in Taman Selayang Baru.
He also claimed Air Selangor had been unclear about areas listed for pipe replacement.
Yee said an Air Selangor letter he received, dated Feb 13, stated that pipe replacement works had commenced in a few areas, including Taman Selayang Baru.
“The list named an area called ‘Selayang Baru’, with six streets – Jalan 36, Lorong 40a, Jalan 44, Jalan 62A, Jalan 14 and Jalan 16 – still in the design phase of the pipe replacement project.”
Yee said Selayang Baru could mean either Taman Selayang Baru or nearby Kampung Selayang Baru.
“As far as I know, Taman Selayang Baru only has Jalan 1 to Jalan 22.
“Air Selangor must clarify the situation for the residents.
“Pipes in the whole of Taman Selayang Baru need to be replaced, not just two streets,” he said.
Air Selangor had not responded to queries regarding the matter as at press time.
