KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans want the state government to solve the never-ending water disruptions and shortage problems they have endured for years.

       Those who have yet to even have water on tap and depend only on gravity pipes are also calling for assistance from the authorities.

       They include villagers in Sabah’s rural areas such as Kota Belud, Pitas and Nabawan, and places like Beaufort, Sepanggar, Penampang, and even some residential areas in the city.

       An elderly couple in Kota Belud said they have been depending solely on gravity pipes and rainwater for years, and have to go without water for days during the dry season.

       “Luckily there’s a stream nearby so we can still bathe and wash up at times, but when this also dries up, we depend on our children to buy bottled water from the stores for us to drink and cook,” said the elderly man, who did not want to be named.

       For the people in Pitas and those living close to rivers, it is a little better as they are still able to bathe and draw water from the river whenever their gravity pipes fail them due to weather or damage.

       “No water? Normal. It’s been years. We are old and we are used to it but I pity the youngsters because they can’t be living like us still now that it’s already the year 2021,” said a farmer in Pitas.

       A sales executive from Kg Dowokon Pitas, Martha Martin, who now lives in Kota Kinabalu, said she hopes government leaders can help to solve this problem for villagers.

       It is the same in rural Paitan district, and some of the people there do not even have electricity supply.

       “We want basic facilities like water and electricity, is it so difficult?” asked Nita Rahman, 26, from Kg Lubang Buaya in Paitan.

       In Penampang, the water disruption issue has been more rampant following increased flooding over the past months.

       Going without water supply for a day or two has become a non-issue for many.

       However, complaints start coming in if water supply has yet to be restored by the second day.

       Some villagers in Kg Terawi in the district have been deprived of water supply for the past three days.

       “What is happening? Where is the water?” asked one resident, Marcelus Puvok.

       On the Sabah Water Department website, notices of supply disruptions due to water treatment plant maintenance and other issues are put up on a daily basis.

       There is at least one district that has a water shortage problem every day.

       On Thursday (Oct 14) alone, at least 10 notices of water disruptions for different areas were issued.