Sarawak to impose surcharge if water consumption exceeds 35,000 litres per month

KUCHING: The Sarawak Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications plans to impose surcharge on households if their water consumption exceeds 35,000 litres per month in a move to encourage prudent water use.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said the average water consumption is 26,889 litres per household per month in the state. “We are seeing excessive water consumption. The United Nations recommends the average consumption of water is 19,800 litres per month per household,” he told reporters after winding up the debate for his ministry at the state assembly sitting here today.

Julaihi said the water tariff in Sarawak is one of the lowest in the country due to the amount of subsidy provided by the state government.

He said the ministry will replace about 2,742 km of old pipes throughout the state starting next year to address the non-revenue water issues.

According to him, his ministry has allocated a total of RM1.03 billion for the 2024 budget to upgrade utilities, especially in the rural areas of the state. -Bernama