Julaihi: Sg Sadit acute water system addresses area's supply issue, reduces dependency on treatment plants
Julaihi (front centre), flanked by Wong and Chieng, shows his approval for the Sungai Sadit acute water system project. — Photo from Facebook/ JBALB Sarawak
SIBU (May 14): The new Sungai Sadit acute water system is providing a solution to the water supply issue in the area, said Utility and Telecommunication Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi.
He said the fully operational project benefits not only Sungai Sadit residents, but also those in the Bawang Assan constituency and Sibu town.
'The implementation of Sungai Sadit acute system reduces dependency on Bukit Lima Water Treatment Plant and Salim Water Treatment Plant.
'We are taking the pressure away from Bukit Lima and Salim plants by putting up an acute system at Sungai Sadit with four million litres per day (MLD) production capacity.
'With the Sungai Sadit acute system, the plants at Bukit Lima and Salim can focus on servicing the town area,' he said when launching the system yesterday.
Julaihi said the RM5 million Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) project commenced in September last year and was completed within six months.
Fully funded by the state government, the project involved the construction of a new water treatment plant and installation of new pipelines to existing distribution pipes.
'The implementation of the project is a part of the Sarawak Water Supply Master Plan and Water Supply Grid System. It is our long-term initiative to resolve and address water supply issues effectively and comprehensively,' he said.
Meanwhile, Julaihi said the ongoing upgrading of the Salim Water Treatment Plant to double its production capacity from 150MLD to 300MLD would ensure Sibu has water reserves.
'Together with Bukit Lima Water Treatment Plant, which produces 45MLD per day, we have a total of 195MLD per day at the moment but this is only enough for the use of Sibu residents and there is no reserve margin.
'That is why we need to upgrade Salim Water Treatment Plant and the Sarawak government has approved RM300 million for this purpose.
'I am confident that when we have 300MLD daily plus 45MLD from Bukit Lima plant, we will have sufficient water supply not just for Sibu but also for the outskirts and surrounding areas,' he added.
Among those present were JBALB director Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awang Redzuan, Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication permanent secretary Datu Jafri Lias, Sibu Water Board general manager Abdul Malik Abdullah, Sibu Resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman, Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, and Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng.
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