By DayakDaily Team
LAWAS, Aug 7: A new 50 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant is set to strengthen water security in Trusan and surrounding areas, providing a long-term solution to meet growing demand and future development needs.
According to a news report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the proposed plant would increase treated water production capacity and improve the reliability of the existing water supply system.
He said careful consideration must be given to the raw water intake location to ensure the plant can operate continuously and remain resilient against changes in river conditions.
“Although preliminary studies have been carried out, we need to review the raw water intake location to ensure the same problem does not recur in the future,” he said during a working visit to the Trusan Regional Water Treatment Plant on Aug 6.
Awang Tengah said the Sarawak government is also taking immediate measures to address current issues involving the existing raw water intake system.
These include maintenance work and temporary mitigation measures while awaiting implementation of the long-term solution.
He said all related actions must be expedited to ensure a stable water supply for residents while allowing water infrastructure development to proceed smoothly.
The Trusan Water Treatment Plant is part of the Sarawak government’s continued efforts to upgrade basic infrastructure, particularly the water supply system, to support economic growth and improve the wellbeing of the people.
Upon completion, the project is expected to benefit residents in Trusan and nearby areas by increasing treated water capacity and improving the sustainability and resilience of the water supply system.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang; Lawas Member of Parliament Dato Henry Sum Agong; Limbang Resident Unus Tambi; Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) Regional Director Dato Ubaidillah Abdul Latip; JBALB Deputy Director of Development Tamida Da’adi; and Sarawak Premier’s Political Secretary Awangku Jinal Abedin Dato Pengiran.
Meanwhile, in a separate report from TVS, he said that a change in the river’s course due to weather conditions has been identified as the main cause of the water supply disruption in the Lawas district, which could affect operations at the Trusan Water Treatment Plant.
He cited riverbank erosion and sand deposits near the water treatment plant’s pump house, which obstructed the flow of water into it.
The Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) had therefore been instructed to take immediate action to restore the situation, including realigning the river channel and dredging sand and sediment that were blocking the water intake.
At the same time, JBALB said several immediate measures would be taken, including constructing a water-retaining bund near the pump house and building a temporary pontoon to enable the pumping of river water to the Trusan Water Treatment Plant. — DayakDaily
