RM5 mln water supply project at Sg Sadit enters early phase, set for completion early March 2025

SIBU (Oct 1): The water supply project at Sungai Sadit here, costing some RM5 million, is aimed at improving the existing supply system covering the area and its surroundings, says Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi.

According to the Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, the construction is currently in its early phase, and expected to reach completion by the end of March next year.

“This water supply project has been carefully planned by the Sarawak government through my ministry, with the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) as the implementing agency, to meet the increasing demand for water supply.

“It involves the construction of a new water treatment plant with a capacity of four million litres per day, and the installation of new pipelines connecting to the existing distribution pipes.

“This will greatly benefit the residents of Sungai Sadit and the surrounding areas,” he told reporters at the site here Sunday.

Julaihi said to ensure a better water supply quality in Sibu Division, JBALB Sarawak would ensure that the projects currently under implementation would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

Adding on, he said the intervention through the acute system, capable of producing a capacity of four million litres per day, could relieve the burden on treatment plants in Salim and Bukit Lima to fulfil the demands from consumers at Sungai Sadit and its surroundings.

“This is while waiting for the completion of the upgrading works on Salim water treatment plant here, which will increase its production capacity from 150 million litres per day to 300 million litres per day, upon completion in 30 months. This is a very important step that we have done.”

On the Sungai Maaw pipe replacement project, Julaihi said it was completed on July 7 this year at a cost of RM10,550,321.00, replacing 34.038km of pipelines.

“The Sungai Maaw area has long suffered from low or no water pressure. In response, the Sibu Water Board has implemented several projects, including the supply, delivery, and laying of main pipes, valves, fittings cum ancillary works, and patching of concrete asphalt at DMZ 08 Sungai Maaw, Sibu (Sibu Water Board Supply Area).

“This project, completed on July 7, 2024 at a cost of RM10,550,321.00, replaced 34.038km of pipelines.  As a result, water pressure has been significantly improved for approximately 2,000 accounts, or 9,000 consumers, at the Sungai Maaw and Empawah areas.

“Additionally, the project has successfully reduced non-revenue water (NRW), minimised pipe bursts and water interruptions, and reduced the need for water tanker deliveries to the Sungai Maaw area.”

In addition, Julaihi said the Sarawak government had allocated RM1.083 billion to replace and upgrade old/damaged pipes along 2,743km throughout Sarawak to address the issue of NRW loss stemming from pipe leakages, which would be implemented over five years.

“This year alone, we have allocated RM247 million for the whole of Sarawak. The Sibu Water Board has been allocated RM170 million, out of the RM1.083 billion for a comprehensive pipe replacement programme covering 360km of pipelines.

“This initiative will be carried out in stages starting in 2024 and is expected to be completed by 2028.

“For the years 2024 and 2025, Sibu Water Board will implement five project packages with a total budget of RM51.8 million (comprising replacement of pipes at Sungai Maaw, Melanggan areas in Bawang Assan, Jalan Lanang Barat, Jalan Paradom, Sungai Assan, Pulau Keladi and Banyok areas, Selalo, Genting and Tanjung Kunyit areas),” he said.

Towards this end, Julaihi pointed out that leakages were not only due to ageing pipes, but also by the ‘third party’, when carrying out contract works.

Among those present were JBALB Sarawak director Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awang Redzuan, and Sibu Water Board general manager Abdul Malik Abdullah.