SIBU: The government has already taken steps to address the water supply problems faced by people in Sibu Jaya, Kanowit, Machan, Nibong Tada, Durin and the surrounding areas.

In a statement yesterday, the state government through the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication and its agencies, Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) and Sibu Water Board (SWB), have implemented several projects to improve water supply in those areas.

Its minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi said among the steps taken included implementing high impact project under ‘Project Rakyat’ programme, namely Proposed Water Supply Kanowit Phase 2 (Stage 2) Sibu Division - Proposed Pipeline from Salim Water Treatment Plant, Sibu Water Board to Kanowit, Sibu Division.

“The objective is to improve water supply to the people in Kanowit, Machan, Nibong Tada, Durin, Sibu Jaya and surrounding areas.

“The scope of works consists of pipelines, construction of booster station, 3.5 million litres (ML) elevated water tank and other associated works,” he stated.

He said the project would be completed by end of this year.

Julaihi said under this project, the laying of the new 1000mm pipeline from Salim Water Treatment Plant to the existing 600mm and 450mm pipelines to Sibu Jaya was being carried out, and would be completed by end of March.

In addition, a new 600mm pipeline is being laid from Sibu Hospital to the Machan junction, which will branch off to Sibu Jaya and to be completed by Sept.

These pipelines will provide sufficient water to Sibu Jaya.

“The Kanowit Phase 2 project is also part of the Sarawak Water Supply Grid tol link and benefit Kanowit and Sibu Jaya folk.

“Sibu Water Board will also implement Salim Water Treatment Plant Phase 3 project to upgrade the existing capacity of the treatment plant from 150 million litres per day (MLD) to 300 MLD to meet the daily water demand until 2040,” Julaihi said.

He added that the Salim Water Treatment Plant would be one of anchor plants for the Sarawak Water Supply Grid to supply water to the state’s central region.

“With the completion of the Kanowit phase 2 project, which is funded by the sate government, it will be able to address the water supply issues identified in Sibu and Kanowit areas” he said.

He said the ministry is addressing the water supply issues holistically in the central region, which includes all areas in Sibu Division, including the coastal areas, which will be linked to the Sibu, Sarikei and Mukah water supply systems amongst others in the future as part of the state-wide water supply grid.

The state government, under the Post Covid Development Strategy 2030, has proposed the implementation of a Utility Corridor in collaboration with the Public Works Department, Land and Survey Department, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), Ministry of Local Government and Housing, water supply agencies and other agencies to facilitate the installation of utility services.

“This proposed corridor will improve the reliability and service level performance of the utilities as well as avoid any future utility relocation works, which can cause interruption of services, accidental damages to utility infrastructure and inconvenience to the consumers. Under this proposed corridor utility initiative, new roads and bridges will be designed to cater for the Utility Corridor,” he said.