The Star
Thursday July 2, 2009
Condo residents in misery over dry taps
By LIM CHIA YING
DRY taps and low water pressure at the Prima Midah Heights Condominiums at Taman Midah in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, for four days since last Friday was the cause of inconvenience to the residents.
The people were frustrated and angry over the unwarranted misery they had to bear with, and afraid the situation may bring about unhygienic conditions.
The condominium draws water from the Sungai Midah reservoir and according to the residents, a pipe burst near the Phoenix Plaza last Thursday.
The condominium joint management committee (JMC) chairman Kok Lian Yee said many upset residents had called her to complain that their taps had run dry on Saturday.
Voicing out woes: The residents of Prima Midah Heights condominium at a meeting with officials from Syabas.
“Some residents have also accused the JMC of not servicing the pumps, and asking me to resign,” Kok said.
She said she only took over as chairman recently after she was elected at the annual general meeting (AGM) last month.
“I undertand their anger as I am also a resident here. We had to suffer inconveniences and were in misery for the last four nights in a row,” she said.
Kok said the water pressure at their place was usually around 20 pounds per square inch (psi) but the lowest it had dipped to was 12psi, according to the measurement of a handyman. On Tuesday, the pressure was recorded to be at 15psi.
“The units on the lower floors are fine today (Tuesday) but the upper floors housing the penthouses are still without water supply,” she said.
Kok said this was the first time that the condominium had experienced such a problem for so many days in a row. A similar water pressure problem occurred in May but was solved within 24 hours.
Building manager Kelvin Chong said the condominium comprised three blocks of 480 units and was occupied three and half years ago.
“In the current water disruption case, it is not just one or two homes that were affected. Although our maintenance fee collection has been good all the while, with between 80% and 90% payment, we don’t want to face a situation where people may not want to pay because of disrupted water supply,” Chong said.
Dr Jeffrey Goh, a special officer to the Federal Territories Minister and Syabas officials went to the site to hear out the residents.
Dr Goh said he had received calls from residents on Monday morning about the water supply disruption and was informed that Syabas had gone there on Saturday and Sunday to do remedial work.
“On Monday morning, one block of occupants had complained of no water and Syabas came to rectify the situation,” he said.
“I asked Syabas officials to check the water tank, which is usually at the 5m level when full but on Tuesday, it was only at the 1.85m level,” Dr Goh said.
Meanwhile, Syabas general manager (corporate communications and public affairs) Abdul Halem Mat Som said in a statement yesterday that there had been eight complaints lodged with the company between June 26 and 29 and that all the complaints had been attended to.
“We found that the low water pressure problem was due to a broken constant flow valve, causing lower volume of water to enter the suction tank. However, as a temporary measure, a short piece has been installed to replace the broken valve,” he said.
“The problem has been resolved and water supply restored.
“The repair to the constant flow valve will be carried out later as a permanent solution,” Halem said.
Dr Goh said in view of the dense population in Jalan 8 and Jalan 8A Taman Midah, he would ask Syabas to review whether there was a need to upgrade the water system in the area.
Voicing out woes: The residents of Prima Midah Heights condominium at a meeting with officials from Syabas.
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