by Johnson K Saai,
MURKY WATER: These villagers have to bathe in the stream as their homes are not supplied with treated water from a reliable source. — Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: A survey on the water shortage in Bau caused by the prolonged drought yesterday unveiled a more serious scenario than just dry taps.
It was discovered that some of the villages were without treated piped water forcing the residents to rely on rain water and streams for bathing, washing and cooking.
A few other villages in the area, especially those on higher grounds, although served by a gravity feed water supply system were seen to have dry taps most of the time due to limited supply and low water pressure.
Among the villages visited by our team yesterday were Kampung Skiat Baru, Seromah, Skio, Sogo and Segubang.
According to Kampung Skiat Baru chief Lia Jacup, 53, since the establishment of their settlement more than 50 years ago they had been relying solely on rain water for their daily needs.
“No doubt we can collect water from the nearby stream but it is not suitable for cooking as it is smelly due to pollution,” he said.
Lia claimed that ever since taking up the post as village headman he had been requesting for a water supply project.
“Of late the main pipelines were laid along the road leading to our areas but they have yet to be connected to individual houses,” he lamented.
His children Aundree, 21, and Andrew, 13, said sometimes they had to bathe at the nearby Sungai Siboyuh or make do with the water from the pond.
NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION: A resident of Skiat Baru collects water from the pond at the back of his house for washing and bathing. The water is not fit for cooking.
A Kampung Seromah resident, Ligen Suria, 59, also complained that water shortage was a never ending problem and they had endured the same situation for years.
As such, he appealed to the government and the authorities concerned to do something to solve their problem once and for all.
“Our hope is to get treated and reliable water supply. I think we have been waiting for the facility for far too long,” he said.
He said the problem now was more crucial as the water from the stream was no longer as clean as before.
“Due to some logging activities and oil palm plantations upstream the water is now heavily polluted. In addition the sewerage system from the various villages in this area also flows into the same stream and because of that the water is no longer clean,” he lamented.
For his family, Ligen said they had to collect clean water elsewhere and transport it home for their daily consumption.
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