By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah plans to modernise its water management system by deploying smart leak detection technology and developing an interconnected water grid to improve the reliability of water supply across districts.
Works and Utilities Ministry (KKRU) permanent secretary Datuk Ridhwan Roger Linus said ageing pipelines and water leakages remain among the state's biggest challenges.
"The issue we face is leakages. When Telibong 2 was completed and we addressed much of Kota Kinabalu's water supply problem, stronger water pressure caused old pipes to burst.
"If the water reaches the surface, we can detect it. But what about leaks that remain underground? They also affect water pressure.
"That is why we are introducing a system to detect hidden leakages," he said during the 'Synergy Infrastructure, Innovation, Service Delivery and Revenue Generation: Driving Sabah's Urban and Rural Development' forum, held in conjunction with SANKALPA Sabah 2030 here yesterday.
He said the ministry, under its Beyond 2030 aspirations, is also proposing an interconnected water grid linking districts across Sabah, allowing water to be transferred from one district to another during shortages.
"Currently, every district depends on its own water supply system. If Kota Belud runs out of water, Tuaran cannot help. Kota Marudu cannot help because each district operates independently.
"What we want to introduce is an interconnected grid where districts are linked. If one district faces a shortage, another can channel water to the affected area," he said.
Ridhwan said the ministry would continue proposing the construction of dams as part of its long-term strategy to strengthen water security, despite differing views on the approach.
"Most of our water intakes come from rivers. During prolonged dry spells, river levels fall, affecting water intake.
"A dam is one of the methods that can ensure the sustainability of our water resources, with stored water available to be released when needed," he said, citing the Bobogon Dam as an example.
The ministry is also proposing a centralised metering system for informal settlements to reduce illegal water connections and ensure consumers pay for the water they use.
Meanwhile, Ridhwan said the ministry aims to reuse treated wastewater for industrial purposes and landscape irrigation instead of discharging it after treatment.
He added that the ministry is also exploring the use of solar energy to power water treatment plants and sewerage facilities as part of its sustainability agenda.
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