Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah State Water Department should take into consideration all factors, not just the use of water pumps, when it comes to lowering the rate of Non-Revenue Water (NRW), said Sabah Umno Election Director Jeffery Nor Mohamed.
He said, the current NRW rate is 54 per cent but the department hopes to lower it to 40 per cent by regulating the use of water pumps.
“I have doubts about this statement, as previous explanations have pointed to issues of water leakage and theft in squatter areas.
“Despite the demolition of several squatter settlements, the NRW rate remains at 54 per cent. Is the use of water pumps truly a significant contributor to this high NRW percentage?” he said in a statement today.
Jeffery, who is Putatan Umno chief, said he would not oppose the department’s actions if water supply was managed effectively and without the need for rationing.
“The ageing water treatment plants that have reached their operational limits and require upgrades, as well as the deteriorating pipelines that are prone to leaks, were among the contributors to the elevated NRW percentage, which cannot be overlooked,” he said.
Regarding the RM300 million “soft loan” provided by the federal government, he said it was intended to address the issue of treated water supply in the short term.
“I believe that actions to resolve the water source issue should be prioritised first, and we need to assess the outcomes.
“Once the quantity of treated water improves, we can then consider areas classified into different categories, whether good, moderately good, or poor.
“If there is a need to take action regarding the use of water pumps, I also recognise the challenges families face in providing tanks, some of which are more expensive than the pumps themselves.
He also said that they must be realistic about the varying capabilities of the people in Sabah, as many still fall into the less affluent category.
