SIBU (Feb 9): The Sibu Water Board (SWB) has completed the urgent repair work on a 750mm diameter Mild Steel main pipe that leaked due to soil settlement in front of the Sibu Foochow Association Building and Ngu Chung Beng & Sons Corporation (Sibu) Sdn Bhd in Jalan Salim here.

In a press statement today, SWB said the repair work, which commenced yesterday, was initially expected for completion within 12 hours.

However, due to unforeseen challenges, the repair was only completed at 8.07am today, it added.

“The delay in completing the repairs was primarily due to the risk of damaging underground utilities, including electricity and telecommunications, which required careful excavation to avoid further disruptions.

“Additionally, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain, posed significant challenges, particularly in draining water from the site before welding could proceed.

“For safety reasons, welding work could not be carried out under rainy conditions, further prolonging the repair process,” it said.

According to SWB, failure to address this critical issue promptly could have led to catastrophic pipe failure, resulting in severe and prolonged water disruptions for thousands of residents and businesses.

“If left unattended, the leak could have worsened, potentially causing infrastructure damage, road collapse, and water supply contamination.

“Immediate action was, therefore, necessary to prevent further deterioration and ensure the continued reliability of water distribution in Sibu.”

SWB said that although the repair work has been completed, water supply recovery will take some time.

“Residents in higher and more remote areas may experience a longer delay before normal water supply is fully restored,” it added.

It said those requiring urgent water supply may request water tanker delivery services.

“We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused and appreciate the public’s patience and understanding.

“Our team remains committed to ensuring the swift restoration of water supply and the reliability of the water distribution system in Sibu.”

For water tanker requests or further inquiries, contact the Sibu Water Board Hotline on 013-8106311.