KOTA KINABALU: Close to half a million residents in Sandakan, Sabah, have been without water for five days as the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant struggles with an unstable power supply.
The crisis began on Saturday (Sept 13) when heavy rain triggered a landslide in Kampung Sarapung, Penampang, causing a transmission tower on the 275kV Kolopis–Segaliud line to collapse.
The outage, which started at 5.05pm, cut off power to multiple east coast districts, including Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna, Beluran and Kinabatangan.
Although some neighbourhoods regained partial supply on Tuesday (Sept 16), about half the city is still dry as the generator at the Segaliud facility can only power one of its two main pumps.
The disruption has been so severe that the Duchess of Kent Hospital was forced to hold off on surgeries earlier this week.
Sandakan MP Vivian Wong said she had been assisting in coordinating efforts between the Water Department, Public Works Department and other agencies so that residents can get relief more quickly.
“The main challenge is that the pumps need electricity to run, and power is still unstable. Once full supply is restored, it will take up to 36 hours for normal water pressure to return,” she said.
Sandakan’s water supply mainly comes from the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant, which contributes 125 million litres daily (MLD). Two other sources, the Kinabatangan River and the Sibuga Water Treatment Plant, contribute 30MLD and 6MLD, respectively.
With the water demand for the entire Sandakan district standing at about 160MLD, any disruption at the Segaliud plant has severe knock-on effects across the district.
Tanker deliveries have been mobilised to areas with no supply, but distribution rounds are facing queues of up to two hours.
Vivian expressed gratitude to individuals and organisations that have stepped forward to help. “Some people donated water tanks, others donated bottled water. Everyone is pulling together for Sandakan during this tough time,” she said.
Other elected representatives have also been on the ground distributing water to affected areas. Tanjong Papat assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon, together with Jetama Water Sdn Bhd chairman Liau Fui Fui, led deliveries of treated water and bottled water to Kampung Sim Sim and nearby housing areas, sending at least 14 tanker trips and 2,000 cartons of bottled water.
In Karamunting, assemblyman Datuk George Hiew Vun Zin distributed 500 cartons of bottled water, prioritising vulnerable groups such as patients, senior citizens, babies and persons with disabilities. He also held emergency meetings with Sabah Electricity and the Water Department to coordinate recovery.
Meanwhile, Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong said his service centre had mobilised water deliveries to Taman Indah Jaya, with support from a sponsoring company.
