Batu Kitang Water Treatment Plant capacity to increase to 884 mln litres per day by Q1 2024

Julaihi (seated left) together with (clockwise from left) Rodziah, Lo, Yap and Abdul Rahman at the KWB Appreciation Night on Dec 1, 2023.

KUCHING, Dec 2: The capacity of the Batu Kitang Water Treatment Plant is set to increase to 884 million litres per day (MLD) upon the completion of upgrading works for Plant 2 in the first quarter of 2024, revealed Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi.

Julaihi disclosed that the current capacity stands at 780 MLD and operates at a capacity of 720 MLD with a reserve margin of five per cent.

“The upgrading of Plant 2 will raise the capacity by 104 MLD to boost the overall capacity to 884 MLD.

“This increase will improve water supply to areas, including Petra Jaya, Samariang, Demak Laut, Rambungan, Sampadi, Santubong and also Beliong via submarine cable,” he said in a statement posted on his social media page yesterday (Dec 1).

Julaihi highlighted this when officiating at the Kuching Water Board’s (KWB) Appreciation Night cum Excellent Service Award (APC) 2022 and Retirement Recognition at Hikmah Exchange.

Moreover, he highlighted the ongoing plan to upgrade Plant 4, aiming to add a capacity of 100 MLD and boost the overall capacity to 984 MLD by 2026. The tender for the Plant 4 upgrading project has been announced, and the closing date is Dec 27.

Once completed, this plant will address the growing water demand in Samarindah and its surrounding areas.

Currently, the Batu Kitang Water Treatment Plant also supplies water to areas in Samarahan Division including Kampung Tg Parang, Kampung Melayu and Samarindah.

“To address the water needs in Samarindah, the Sarawak government has approved the construction of two high-level tanks, currently in the site identification stage.

“KWB is actively working to resolve water supply challenges in Kampung Tg Parang and Kampung Melayu, focusing on the distribution pipeline in these two villages,” he added.

The event also witnessed the presentation of Excellence Service Awards to 46 KWB staff members.

Deputy Minister of Utility Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, and KWB general manager Rodziah Mohammad were among those present. — DayakDaily