UMS taking measures to ease water shortage impact on campus

Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice chancellor Professor Datuk Taufiq Yap Yun Hin. (Pix courtesy of UMS)

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is taking measures to reduce the impact of water shortage in campus here, due to water rationing that is expected to last until 2024.

UMS vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said that besides constant contact with Sabah Water Department and daily monitoring of water level in the department’s tank there, the university had also provided external water tanks at the college dorm locations.

"UMS at present is also using the lorry tank service from Penampang’s Moyog water treatment plant, with up to 20 deliveries daily or up to 300,000 litre daily for undergraduates’ use at dorms and buildings around the campus," he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 6).

Earlier, Prof Kasim revealed that the Kota Kinabalu campus needed between 3 million litres per day (MLD) to 5 MLD to accommodate needs, but was aware that the university was among those affected from water supply rationing from Telibong water treatment plant in Tuaran.

He said that based on meetings with the state Water Department, they were informed that the combined areas where Telibong plant were supplying water required 190 MLD, but the facility could only accommodate 164 MLD.

"The department is also facing water theft or leakages up to 8 MLD, and at the same time, pipe upgrading along Pan Borneo highway are also currently being done.

"According to the information from the department, the water disruption issues are expected to be settled in 2024 for these areas involved, so they have to do rationing in the meantime," he added.

Prof Kasim said UMS had also looked for alternative water sources within campus, where they had built a piping system to get water sourced from the hills that could provide 80,000 litre per day.

"The university will also identify other hill water sources and build new piping to channel water to undergraduates (in dorms).

"For a long term plan, we are looking at channeling water via 'tube wells'.

"These measures may not be a complete solution, but UMS is committed to do what is necessary to reduce the water rationing impact for the comfort of our undergraduates and staff," he added.