Pipe replacement programme benefits residents
Residents had faced issues with burst pipes and rusty water due to the old pipes.
The pipe replacement work in various areas within the Gombak and Hulu Selangor districts has resolved complaints of burst pipes, rusty water, and low water pressure in the affected areas.
The Rawang Kampung Kenanga village head, Sukriya Yahya, stated that residents had faced issues with burst pipes and rusty water due to the old pipes, which had been in use for decades, reportedly since the Japanese occupation era.
He said this situation resulted in frequent pipe bursts, occurring at least once a month.
"Each time the pipes burst, we experience water supply disruptions for at least four hours while waiting for repairs to be carried out.
“The pipe replacement helps resolve the water disruptions faced by the residents, and Air Selangor can also reduce the rate of Non-Revenue Water (NRW),” he told Sinar Harian.
He added that the pipe replacement work had been implemented in phases over the past two years, involving Jalan Melur and Jalan Kemuning in this area, and will continue into other areas.
"Following a recent meeting, it was announced that the pipe replacement work will be carried out on Jalan Anggerik next. I hope this replacement work will extend to several other roads, with an estimated 30 per cent of the pipes still needing replacement here,” he said.
Pipe replacement programme
Meanwhile, Air Selangor's chief executive officer, Adam Saffian Ghazali, said the pipe replacement programme is a commitment to improving the efficiency of water supply services to consumers and replacing outdated pipes, which are over 50 years old.
“This programme has been in place since 2016, involving the replacement of 150 kilometres (km) of pipes each year.
“As of May this year, 750.62 km of pipes have been replaced, which has indirectly reduced NRW and ensured a sustainable water supply for consumers,” he said.
He added that Air Selangor had allocated RM9.3 million for pipe replacement at 10 locations within the Gombak and Hulu Selangor districts, benefiting 409 account holders.
“The areas involved are Jalan Melur and Jalan Kemuning in Kampung Kenanga, Jalan Dahlia 7 in Bukit Beruntung, Jalan Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh covering the Ulu Yam area, and two locations in Serendah.
“This project also includes areas such as Jalan Cemperaisari in Sungai Buaya, Jalan SG 1/1 in Taman Sri Gombak, Jalan SU40 in Taman Selayang Jaya, Jalan Bunga Tanjung in Kampung Sungai Tua Baharu, and Jalan 43 in Selayang Baru,” said Adam.
He stated that all the projects were completed in stages between September 2023 and May of this year.
“Starting this year, Air Selangor will replace 300 km of pipes annually, increasing to 400 km beginning in 2034,” he added.
Improving water quality
Additionally, Batu Caves, Sungai Tua Baharu village head Zulkifli Hamzah said the pipe replacement project in Jalan Bunga Tanjung has resolved the issue of low water pressure, which was caused by the population growth due to many rental houses being built in the village.
Zulkifli stressed that the replacement of pipes, which were over 30 years old, has surely provided relief to the residents, as it will also improve the quality of the water supply in the area.
“The old pipes used iron materials, which caused the water to rust easily. Many homes installed water filters to maintain the water quality, especially for those using water directly from the metre.
“The pipe replacement is a wise step, and I hope the water quality continues to improve, with the project being expanded to other areas,” he said.
He added that Jalan Bunga Tanjung is the second area to benefit from the project, and other roads should also be prioritised, such as Jalan Kenanga and Jalan Melati.
“Pipe replacement is necessary, and currently, only one road has been involved. I hope the project will be extended comprehensively.
“The project's priority depends on the system records and complaints based on the need, whether due to dirty water or frequent leakages,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bukit Beruntung resident, Lawrence John, 36, said the pipe replacement in Jalan Dahlia had benefited residents, who are now enjoying better water pressure.
“Having lived here for 27 years, I’ve never heard of the pipes being replaced, which has caused issues with water pressure.
“The pipe replacement has brought relief to residents as we are now receiving a stable supply of clean water,” he said.
