The replacement of sewerage pipes in Jalan Ipoh and the surrounding areas has repeatedly damaged Syabas’ water pipes this year.
THE contractor of a sewerage upgrading project had burst underground water pipes, causing water disruption in a few areas in Sentul, Segambut and Kepong since last month, claims Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK).
Its Communications Department senior manager Shahrul Nizam Sulaiman said the contractor, Jaks Sdn Bhd, appointed by the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry (KeTTHA) was undertaking the construction of the 42km-long sewerage network project in Batu.
He added that IWK was merely the management consultant overseeing the RM399mil project.
The project that started in April 2014, is scheduled to be completed in April 2018 and is said to benefit one million residents there.
Shahrul said the contractor was doing its best to move the pit far away from the utilities, especially water pipes, but faced many challenges.
He added that the open-cut method was used in the sewerage upgrading works.
“But the sandy soil condition has caused pressure on some of the ageing water pipes and caused them to break.
“We had relocated a 500m stretch of sewerage pipes to DID (Drainage and Irrigation Department) reserve land and used sheet piles to strengthen the soil and vibro hammer for less pressure on the water pipes, but it still cracked at the joints although it was 5m away from the construction site,” he said.
Shahrul added that IWK record showed seven water disruptions since May.
Water cut had taken place in Taman Kok Lian, Batu 3, 4 and 5 Jalan Ipoh, the entire Jalan Ipoh stretch, Taman Segambut Indah, Segambut Pusat, Jalan Manjoi, Taman Batu Muda, Taman Dato Senu, Taman Pelangi, Kampung Perwira, Jalan Kepong Lama, Taman Batu, Jalan Batu Berani and Jalan Padang Rengas, among others.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) corporate communication head Amin Lin Abdullah said there were 12 reports of burst water pipes caused by sewerage pipe-laying works in those areas since January.
“We understand that the frequency of burst water pipes and water supply interruption during the repair works has inconvenienced the residents in the affected areas,” he said.
“We have repeatedly reminded the contractors laying the sewerage pipe to be cautious of the water pipes in the area,” said Amin, adding that the cost for the repair works would be borne by IWK.
It was learnt that Syabas had written a complaint to the regarding the matter on June 13, but a KeTTHA spokesman said no complaints were received from Syabas as of June 15.
StarMetro also reported on the many businesses affected by the water cuts on June 11 that lasted between a couple of hours to a day.
A Batu 4, Jalan Ipoh, resident Pirahas Pathy said he had to take leave on May 31 as the water supply was cut at 9pm and resumed only at 7pm the next day.
“I could not leave my family at home without water, so I took them out,” he said, adding that water disruption occurred there about five times a month.
Pirahas said he had gone to the construction site to get first-hand information on the cause of the water cut.
“Although Syabas gets the complainants’ wrath, they respond to the pipe burst fast.
“The fault lies in the sewerage contractors. I got hold of the phone number of one of the contractors but often his phone was either switched off or went unanswered. He answered once and said he would get back to me but did not,” he said.
