LABUAN — Continuous heavy rainfall since early January has disrupted water supply in several areas of Labuan following damage to key water infrastructure near the Bukit Besar reservoir, the Labuan Water Supply Department (JBAL) said today.
JBAL spokesperson said unstable ground conditions caused by persistent rain affected major water supply lines serving Kiansam, Layangan, Lajau and Pohon Batu, resulting in widespread supply interruptions.
“Repair works have been challenging due to ongoing rainfall and safety concerns at the affected site. Our priority is to ensure repairs are carried out safely and effectively to avoid further disruptions,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The department said water supply could not be restored partially, as doing so could lead to further damage and prolong the outage.
To mitigate the impact on residents, JBAL has deployed water tankers and installed 83 static water tanks across affected areas. Kiansam received the highest number of tanks, followed by Pohon Batu, Lajau and Layangan, with additional tanks placed in Arsat, Bandar, Kerupang and Sungai Pagar.
According to JBAL, repair works for the Kiansam supply line are expected to be completed by Monday afternoon, weather permitting. Water supply to Layangan, Pohon Batu and Lajau is expected to resume gradually from 2pm today.
Residents in high-altitude areas and locations at the end of the distribution network may experience delays, with full restoration across Labuan expected by January 13.
The department also said it is reviewing long-term measures to strengthen infrastructure in the affected area to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.
