KUCHING, Oct 5: Sarawak aims to deploy fully automated water treatment plants and explore 3D utility mapping in an effort to digitalise the State’s water supply.
As every water supply authority currently operates its own Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi said they are actively working towards integration across all water supply authorities to create a unified water supply GIS map.
“Additionally, we have plans to venture into 3D utility mapping in the future, allowing for visualisation of pipeline depths beneath the ground which would be immensely beneficial for both water supply development planning and operational activities.
“Sarawak is proactively exploring innovative strategies to evolve into a data-centric water supply service. Our plan involves deploying fully automated water treatment plants by leveraging Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and IoT technology,” he said.
Julaihi highlighted these in his keynote on ‘Transforming Utilities and Telecommunication: A Journey of Innovation and Connectivity’ at the World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) in conjunction with the 6th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
He emphasised that technology plays a crucial role in effectively overseeing the entire distribution chain from source all the way to consumers, as well as resolving problems and challenges such as rapid detection and repair of water leakages.
In areas with poor accessibility in Sarawak, he highlighted that the cost of reading a water meter could be higher than the consumer’s water bill.
Furthermore, issues like high water loss in the distribution system due to poor detection and low water pressure or high turbidity compound the challenges.
“Due to these challenges, smart technologies are leveraged to manage most of these problems with four water supply authorities are currently working together, focusing on digitalising the water supply system.
“Digitalising the water supply system is also part of the Sarawak Water Supply Master Plan and Water Grid strategy, encompassing production, distribution, retail and customer service, and a centralised command centre,” he explained.
“The command centre serves as the central hub for information, equipped with analytical capabilities for operational, decision-making, and planning coordination purposes.” — DayakDaily
