KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — For more than two years, water was siphoned from a pipe at the Datin Halimah homestay in Sentul, yet Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) says it was powerless to do anything about it because the pipe was on private property.
This is despite the state resorting to implementing a water rationing exercise in the Klang Valley for almost two months to tackle a water shortage.
“Syabas has urged the public to be more responsible and cooperate by helping to curb water losses for future use and do not waste water unnecessarily as water is a precious commodity,” said Syabas corporate communications and public affairs deputy general manager Priscilla Alfred.
She highlighted that the homestay had, in another location, also made an illegal connection to the water main.
Priscilla said Syabas and the National Water Services Commission investigated the area after receiving tip-offs from other consumers.
The illegal connection was made using a 25mm high density polyethylene pipe.
“So far, losses due to this theft have amounted to RM156,000 or 68,400 cubic metres of water,” said Priscilla.
From January 1 to May 9, 2014, Syabas said it had recorded 1,271 complaints of water theft and all the complaints had been checked.
Of these, 96 cases were confirmed and Syabas said it had taken further action.
“Each year, RM5 million is lost due to water theft,” she said.
