LABUAN – The Environment and Water Ministry is considering an increase to the production capacity for treated water on this duty-free island.
Its minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the additional capacity was to ensure that Labuan would always have sufficient water to supply households and businesses.
Labuan’s current water production capacity is 100 million litres per day (MLD).
“We are looking at increasing the water production capacity with additional water tanks on this island.
“The island’s water reserve is currently at 20%. If something happened to the main source of water supply (Lawa Gadong water treatment plant in Beaufort, Sabah), the additional water tanks can function as a backup supply,” he told reporters after visiting a water pipe replacement and water treatment plant project here today.
Tuan Ibrahim said a total of RM113 million had been allocated for several water pipe replacement and water treatment plant projects at Jalan Mohd Salleh, Kina Benuwa and other areas here.
He said the RM8 million Kina Benuwa water treatment plant would be able to increase the water production capacity by 30 MLD when completed.
The Kina Benuwa project, which started in October 2019 under the 11th Malaysia Plan, is expected to benefit thousands of residents around Kg Sg Bedaun.
“Based on a briefing today by the Labuan Water Supply Division, Labuan has three major water issues, including having water pipes of between 40 and 50 years old that cause leakages and frequent water disruptions.
“The second issue is the water pipe replacement projects which are still ongoing and the third is the need to increase the water production capacity,” Tuan Ibrahim said.
Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim said the issue of worsening pollution in Sg Gersik would be addressed by the Labuan Irrigation and Drainage Department.
Tuan Ibrahim was on a one-day working visit to Labuan to inspect water treatment plant and pipe replacement projects and get an update on efforts to address the island’s water issues. – Bernama, August 21, 2022
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