Kota Kinabalu: Consumers in parts of the state capital and Tuaran are advised to prepare for possible water supply disruptions due to a partial emergency shutdown on Tuesday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is also Minister of Public Works, announced that a shutdown will commence at 8 am to facilitate urgent repairs on eight air valves along the pipeline from the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant and a treated water pump at the same facility.

“During the repair period, the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant will operate at a reduced capacity, producing only 75 million litres per day (MLD) compared to the usual 96 MLD, a 21 percent reduction in treated water output,” he stated. Key areas expected to experience low water pressure or temporary disruptions include SK Nexilis, Kibing Solar, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Likas Hospital, 1Borneo, Kingfisher Sulaman, Ujana Kingfisher, Kingfisher Raja Udang, Kawasan Sulaman, Indah Permai, Kawasan Sepanggar, Gayang (Tuaran), Nexus, Karambunai, and the polytechnic.

Shahelmey assured that the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) will implement necessary measures during the shutdown to mitigate the impact of the water disruption. “The public is advised to store sufficient water and use it sparingly until supply is fully restored. A dedicated technical team will work around the clock to ensure repairs are completed on time, minimizing inconvenience to consumers,” he added.

He further mentioned that once the repair work is completed, the water inflow to the main tank will be increased to help reduce water supply disruptions in end-of-system areas such as Gayang, UMS, Likas Hospital, Kingfisher, Menara Kinabalu, Taman Cerah, and surrounding areas.

Shahelmey also urged the public to stay informed through official announcements and to direct any inquiries to the Sabah State Water Department Careline, its official website, or its social media platforms.