KOTA KINABALU: Folks in Penampang and around the city rush to fill containers with water and buy bottled water to prepare for a last-minute 10-day water disruption.
The Sabah Water Department issued a notice on March 6, announcing the expected water disruption from March 7 to March 16.
Sunita Rahman, who resides in Penampang, started filling up a small pool outside her house, which can be used for washing or other necessities if the need arises.
"It's such a hassle to do all these, especially when it's last minute. I have to go stock up on cartons of bottled water later," said the 29-year-old.
Avery Joseph, a home-based baker also in Penampang, said this would affect her business, but she hoped the situation would not worsen.
"I can still do it with lower water pressure, but please, I hope it will not become a no-water situation for days because we still need to bathe, cook, and eat," said the mother of three.
In supermarkets, people could be seen carrying cartons of bottled water to be purchased as well.
"Well, I sure hope this water disruption won’t become worse as the days go by," said 17-year-old Delson Indang, who was asked by his parents to buy water.
According to the Water Department notice, this condition was due to reduced output from the Moyog water treatment plant.
It stated that treated water production would be reduced from 189 million litres daily to 187 million litres following replacement works for Filter Media No 3 of the treatment plant.
The notice said that the affected areas would experience water supply disruption and restoration in stages and advised consumers to store up enough water and to use water prudently.
The affected areas here include the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kota Kinabalu City Centre, Kepayan, Tanjung Aru, Sembulan, Karamunsing, Signal Hill, Likas, Tanjung Lipat, Inanam, Kolombong, Luyang, Putatan and Bukit Padang.
The affected areas in Penampang are Penampang town, the KadazanDusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Culture Centre in Donggongon, Jalan Penampang Baru and Jalan Penampang-Papar Lama, Jalan Panglima Banting, Country Heights Apartments, Jalan Bundusan, Beverly Hills Apartments, Putatan, Kg Ketiau, Petagas and the surrounding areas.
