SERIAN: Slabi Water Treatment Plant will be used as a pioneer project to treat water using electrochlorination system (using salt and energy) to replace chlorine gas.
Minister of Rural Electricity and Water Supply Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi said the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) will be responsible for monitoring the use of electrochlorination system in order to comply with international safety standards including its operation and maintenance.
“For the time being, we treat water from bacteria using chlorine gas that has high risk in terms of transportation and storage which can even affect the environment if leaked.
“Therefore, we plan to move on to more sophisticated and safe technology where it is only using salt water,” he said.
Rundi said this at a press conference after visiting the Slabi Water Treatment Plant here yesterday.
The minister added, this electrochlorination system is a technology from Germany and is used extensively in continental Europe and United States of America as well as Mexico.
“If the pilot project in Slabi is successful, we will expand the use of electrochlorination system throughout the state in the effort to provide treated water to the people of Sarawak.
“Hence, this will be my agenda in the next Cabinet Meeting,” he explained.
He also stated that the cost of installing the system was also considered cheap in the long run compared to chlorine gas.
He further added that the state government also carried out a pilot project for the penetration of water membranes especially in the most remote areas.
“At present, rural people are getting water from the mountains.
“Water from mountain area can be treated with a membrane penetration and the project will be expanded if successful,” he stressed.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Assistant Minister of Water Supply Liwan Lagang, Kedup Assemblyman Martin Ben, Bukit Semuja Assemblyman John Ilus and JBALB Director Chang Kuet Shan.
