KUCHING: The current water crisis faced by folk of Separai and Selitut longouses in Tatau district is due to constraint in the supply of water from theTatau water treatment plant.
This was due to the prolonged
dry spell currently besetting the state, especially in the northern region, said the Utilities Ministry and Rural Water Supply
Department (JBALB) in a joint statement yesterday.
“The dry spell has resulted in the supply of raw water at the water intake point of the treatment plant to be at the critical level.”
They advised people, especially those in affected areas, to save water and use prudently.
According to the ministry, the state government through JBALB had implemented various initiatives to ensure sufficient water supply in Tatau.
“As an immediate measure, the old raw water pump at the treatment had been replaced with a new one yesterday.
“In addition, we have also carried out dredging at the water intake point upgrading work on the treatment plant, which was completed three days ago,” the ministry added.
The upgrading work was to increase the plant’s capacity in churning out six million litres of water from the present four million litres a day.
“The upgrading work had just completed and it is now in the testing and commissioning stage.”
On the long-term solution, the ministry said another treatment plant with a capacity of churning out 20 million litres of treated water daily was being proposed to cater to the people residing in Sangan, Tatau and along the Tatau-Sibu road.
Another solution would be to supply treated water from the booster pump station at the Bintulu port to the longhouses and areas before the Tatauwater treatment plant.
This proposed project, aimed at reducing the pressure on the Tatauplant, is expected to be completed in two years’ time.
The ministry said together with JBALB, they would closely monitor the implemenration of the project to ensure completion as scheduled.
Members of the public who experienced interruption of water supply or wish to have water supply delivered to their areas can call Bintulu JBALB office at 086-344544 or 016-861 8526.
