KUCHING: Seeing how it’s the dry season, residents have been advised to use water wisely. A statement from the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) yesterday said tankers are on standby and ready to deliver water to affected areas as one of the measures to mitigate the effects of drought.
It also said the recent forest and peat soil fires in Mukah District, along with soaring temperatures, had affected operations to provide continuous water supply in a few areas, including Kg Penipah, Kg Tekajong and Kg Bruit. Some of the HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipes were found to be leaking, it added.
“The underground peat soil fires burnt some stretches of the HDPE pipes, causing severe leakages. JBALB staff are not able to determine the extent of the damage and undertake repair works due to thick smoke and heat from the fire,” it said.
