Water that gives you the creeps

2

Grave concern over tap water for Balai Ringin folk, as water pump station is just downstream of cemetery

The cemetery in Kampung Melayu Balai Ringin sited close to the riverbank of the Balai Ringin river.

KUCHING: The JKR deems it safe but it’s creepy that for over 25 years, thousands of Balai Ringin folk may have been unwittingly consuming

tap water believed to be tainted by a cemetery next to a riverbank less than 200 metres from the main water pumping station.

The mortifying discovery was revealed by Balai Ringin assemblyman Snowdan Lawan, who was appalled and equally concerned over the health risks that the tainted water or leachate will cause to the people in his constituency.

He said that by a rough estimation, the population in Balai Ringin could easily reach to more than 5,000 people residing in the town area and its surrounding villages.

“We have more than 30 villages in Balai Ringin who are consuming the tap water everyday. This is absolutely shocking,” Snowdan told thesundaypost, adding that the area is also home to SMK Balai Ringin and SK Balai Ringin, with both schools registering a total of more than 2,200 students.

Also directly receiving the tainted water was the Army base camp and the Balai Ringin health clinic, he added.

Snowdan disclosed that it came to his attention from fellow villagers that the water pump commissioned by the Public Works Department (JKR) along the Balai Ringin river was pumping raw water downstream from the Kampung Melayu Balai Ringin cemetery.

“When there are new burials or when it starts to rain, water from the cemetery will spill directly into the river without any form of barrier and into our drinking water. And this has been going on for more than 25 years unnoticed,” said Snowdan.

“I am also not sparred from this nightmare as I too have been consuming water from the same tap for many years. This is really shocking and sad to note that the people in Balai Ringin are in fact drinking ‘zombie water’ for years,” he added.

The floating rubbish believed to be generated by workers from an oil palm plantation upstream.

The queasy discovery, he added, also prompted him to voice out his concerns in the recent DUN sitting which received several ghastly looks from members of the august House.

Even though JKR has clarified that the water supply is compliant to the National Drinking Water Quality Standard based on the World Health Organisation Standard, the explanation given, he added, is still not enough to banish the discomfort that people could be consuming secretions from decomposing bodies.

“There are of course, processes to filter the raw water for consumption. But the nagging feeling of it coming from a tainted source is every bit disturbing to me and to the people in Balai Ringin,” he added.

Snowdan also pointed out the large amount of floating rubbish and the presence of chemicals in the Balai Ringin river believed to be caused by an oil palm plantation upstream, added to his already grave concerns.

When contacted, Tuai Rumah (TR) Achu from Kampung Bayor also shared the same sentiments with Snowdan and hoped that the situation will be rectified by the relevant authorities as soon as possible.

“Our water source must be changed. This is for our own health and also for our peace of mind knowing that we could finally be getting our pipe water from a cleaner source,” said Achu adding that his village is currently home to more than 470 residents.

Achu also hoped the authorities will consider moving the water pump upstream away from the cemetery or install water pipes from the new RM116.5 million Serian, Samarahan Water Treatment plant in Slabi, Serian to Balai Ringin.

Also contacted was village head Idris Manap from Kampung Melayu Balai Ringin who said the village’s cemetery was already in existence in the early 40’s while the Balai Ringin pumping station was constructed in the 90’s.

“To avoid any discomfort and ill perception towards our village, I would fully support if there are calls for the relocation of the water pumping station further upstream and away from our village’s cemetery. This will benefit everyone,” said Idris.

He also said Kampung Melayu Balai Ringin is home to more than 1,000 villagers and the cemetery which spans to more than two to three acres on the hill slope of the Balai Ringin river bank, is almost full.

Meanwhile, JKR assistant director (assets) Danien Rangu when contacted gave his assurance that the treated water from the Balai Ringin river is actually safe for consumption.

He said JKR has its own stringent methods which encompasses filtration and chlorination processes at the Balai Ringin water treatment plant capable to generate a capacity of two million litres daily (MLD). This is the standard that we use in providing treated water supply which is safe, clean and drinkable,” said Danien.

He however admitted that as per requirement, where raw water is supposed to be pumped, it is supposed to be at least 8km radius away from any potential source of pollution.

He said JKR also monitors rivers and observe any changes to the river’s habitat and mortality of the fishes.

“If we find many fish dying in the river. We immediately stop pumping the water as there is a big possibility of poisons, pollutants or chemicals being discharged into the river,” he added.