Mini Workshop for Water Gravity System

Background and Significance of the Problem

5th June 2015, Malaysia was shocked by the Sabah earthquake that struck Ranau, Sabah, with a moment magnitude of 6.0 which lasted for 30 seconds. The earthquake was the strongest to affect Malaysia since 1976. The tremors also felt all over Sabah and as far afield Labuan, Limbang, Miri Sarawak and Brunei.

As a result from the earthquake most areas in Ranau and Kota Belud were affected and it is lead to the water shortage. Following the second mudslide at 12 July after an earthquake rocked Mount Kinabalu and nearby areas, the Kedamaian river, which supplies 90 per cent raw for Kota Belud and Bayayat, was rendered muddy. Before this, the capacity of the Kadamaian River stood about 35 million litres per day.

The problem is further aggravated by the mud floods that contaminated Kadamaian River which one of the water sources for Kota Belud. One of the villages that affected is Kampung Melangkap, Kota Belud. Since the main supply of water has been affected, water source has not been able to support the population of the community. The villagers also faced bad access the clean water and the daily routine for community has affected likes not enough water for people to cook, drink and bath, besides that, the villagers also afraid that the problems will leading to the infections and sickness in children, water borne illness such as, cholera or diarrhea.

According to the expert the water will be left unstable for years. The water problem will be the problem for the community especially for the Melangkap villagers. Even though the water plant in Kota Belud already maintained to provide clean water after the earth quake, certain villagers who did not apply a clean water supply from Jabatan Air Kota Belud still faced a problem to get clean water for their daily use.  As for the solution for the water-shortage in Melangkap, Kota Belud, is to build water storage tank that runs by gravity.  This holistic approach  is one of the way we can go a long way to contribute to this basic community of Man’s need water that will help the community to live healthy and comfortable since water is the basic need in life.