New pipes to improve water quality

SYABAS work crew came to replace communication pipes in SEA Park last June 2008 and the residents were excited because this will mean getting better quality water and greater water pressure as the present galvanised iron pipes are more than 30 years old and rusting.

The communication pipe is the pipe which links the main pipe to the house meter and would be replaced with new black color High-Density Polyethene (HDPE) pipes and stainless steel Metre Stand Pipe. The new pipes can last up to 30 to 50 years.

The work crew started work on the first street at Jalan 21/30 before moving to the next street. Before the work crew moves into the street where I stay, the residents had received notice cards in their letterboxes notifying them to remove their motor vehicles from the affected street.

Work started in the morning and unsually stretched into the morning wee hours, sometimes up to 4 am the next morning. In my street alone there were 47 terrace houses and work started on 25th June 2008. For three days they worked right up to 2 am the next morning. However, the residents were not complaining of not getting enough sleep because they knew its for their own good.

After the new pipes had been laid and water interruption resumed, I noticed that the water pressure coming from the taps in my kitchen sink and bathrooms is now greater as compared previously with the old pipes.

As for water quality, its hard to tell now as the pipes replacement work is still continuing in other parts of SEA Park. Hopefully, when all is completed, we will see the improvement.

Trenches are dug using tractor to lay the new black colour HDPE pipes


Seen here is the distribution main pipe which is made of asbestos cement and will not be replaced.


Each of the four new black colour HDPE pipes connects the main pipe to the stainless steel metre stand pipe on each house.


Tractors covering up the trenches after laying the new HDPE pipes


Working late into the nights to get the job done quickly to minimize inconveniences to residents.


After the new HDPE pipes had been laid, the trench is refilled with gravels and sands and resurfaced with tar for smoothness.

Benefits of the Communication Pipe Replacement programme
1. Improves the quality of water that reaches the consumer;
2. Reduces the loss of Non-Revenue Water;
3. Reduces the interruption of water supply to the consumer as a result of pipe leakages;
4. Avoids damage to the roads due to leaking or burst pipes located underground;
5. Increases the water pressure which goes to the house; and
6. Reduces the cost of repair to pipes and roads.

Info :
SYABAS is the concessionaire for water distribution services in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. It has been tasked by the Federal Government to replace 6,000km of old pipes in these areas to improve water quality. The pipe replacement programme started in June 2006 with a completion target of 2010.

Installation of HDPE service pipes
A service pipe is that part of the water supply system which conveys water from the distribution main to the consumer’s premises and is subjected to water pressure from that main. It is considered to comprise two sections:

• The COMMUNICATION PIPE is that part of the service pipes from the main up to the and including the consumer’s meter situated at the boundary of the consumer’s property. The water supply authority is responsible for the installation and maintenance of the communication pipe.

• The SUPPLY PIPE is that part of the service pipe from the consumer’s meter into the premises up to the storage cistern. The customer is responsible for the installation and maintenance of the supply pipe.