361 water supply projects worth RM6.46 bln under 13MP

SARAWAK is building and upgrading 32 main water treatment plants across its three regions, alongside an estimated 2,934 kilometres of water grid pipelines.

Utilities and Telecommunications Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said 10 of the plants and 561km of pipelines have been completed, with the rest at various stages of implementation.

In the Southern Region, which covers Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman and Betong divisions, nine main plants and an estimated 1,132km of pipelines are involved.

“Three main water treatment plants in the Southern Region have been upgraded, while another six are at various stages of implementation,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here today (Oct 19).

The completed plants are Batu Kitang (Plant 2), Slabi in Serian and Bayai in Sri Aman.

Among those under way, the upgrade of Batu Kitang Water Treatment Plant (Plant 4) in Kuching is 79.1 per cent complete and will raise the facility’s overall capacity from 868 million litres per day (MLD) to 968 MLD.

New plants in Lundu (20 MLD) and Engkilili (75 MLD) are 3.42 per cent and 23.1 per cent complete respectively, while the Lubau upgrade in Betong is 54.9 per cent complete.

On pipelines, 331km have been completed, with another 801km connecting the whole region and extending to the Central Region being or to be built.

In the Central Region, which covers Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah and Kapit divisions, 12 plants and an estimated 1,183km of pipelines are involved.

“Four main water treatment plants have been completed in the Central Region, while another eight are at various stages of implementation,” he added.

They are Tanjung Manis Mukah, Basong Mukah, Bayong Sarikei and Julau Sarikei, the last upgraded in August. The Salim plant upgrade in Sibu, from 150 MLD to 300 MLD, is 93.22 per cent complete.

On pipelines, 186km are done, while 997km linking the entire region to the Northern Region are being or will be built.

In the Northern Region, which covers Bintulu, Miri and Limbang divisions, three of 11 plants have been upgraded, including Nyabau in Bintulu (354 MLD), while a new 120 MLD plant in Samalaju, Bintulu, is at an early stage. Some 44km of pipelines have been completed, with another 575km being or to be built.