JULAU: More villages and longhouses in the state will get their water supply this year under the Rural Water Supply (BALB) project using the Gravity Water Feed System (AGB) alternative.

State’s Minerals and Geo Science Department director Alex Unya Ambun said a sum of RM14.43 million had been allocated to the department to execute 93 BALB projects in Sarawak this year.

Last year, he said the department was given RM6.33 million to implement 45 of such projects statewide.

“In 2006 to 2007, we used RM1.25 million to build and upgrade AGB in 20 villages and longhouses in the state.

“In 2009 and 2010, we received RM9.34 million under the RM1 Billion Special Allocation for Sarawak to carry out 54 BALB projects.

“We hope AGB can help to solve water supply problem in rural areas where there is no reticulation system,” he said at the launching of the system at Rumah Michael Jantan in Nanga Bekatan, about two hours’ longboat ride from here, on Saturday.

Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture, who is also Julau MP, Datuk Joseph Salang officiated at the function.

Alex explained the system used water source from streams in hilly or areas higher than the longhouse.

“It involves the construction of water catchment area, installation of High Density Polyethylene pipes and water taps,” he said, adding that most of the projects were built on a ‘gotong-royong’ basis by the longhouse residents and staff of the department.

For Julau, he said the department planned to carry out AGB in eight longhouses and the projects would cost RM650,000.

Another 21 applications estimated to cost RM3.6 million had also been submitted to the department, he said.

“From 2007 to last year, we spent RM2.038 million to implement AGB in 34 longhouses in Julau,” he said.

He later advised the people to boil the water before consumption, as it was not from a treated source.

Also present was Alex’s deputy Dr Richard Mani.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/09/more-villages-to-get-water-supply-this-year/#ixzz1sMHSPU4A