TUARAN – The Sabah government has implemented two urgent water supply scheme (UWSS) projects at the Telibong I and II water treatment plants as an immediate measure to address water shortage faced in the northern parts of Kota Kinabalu.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor in a statement said the first UWSS undertaken by Jetama Sdn Bhd at the Telibong I water treatment plant in Tamparuli here was completed on October 12 and will be fully operational by December.
“Another UWSS project is currently being done at the Telibong II water treatment plant, which is expected to be completed between February and March next year,” he said after a briefing and site visit to the Telibong I water treatment plant today.
The Telibong I UWSS project involved the construction of a treatment plant with a capacity of 5 mld to boost the plant’s capacity to 80 mld.
It will be fully operational once the installation of a 1.8km distribution pipe is completed.
Water Department director Baharuhom KK Sogon in his briefing to the Sabah chief minister earlier said that the Telibong I UWSS project will provide additional water supply to 25,000 residents to address the water supply problem in Tuaran and Tamparuli.
It would also allow for excess water supply to be distributed to households in Menggatal and Telipok.
He said the Telibong II UWSS project would boost water supply capacity at the treatment plant by another 10 mld.
He added these plants were expected to improve water supply in the northern parts of Kota Kinabalu as it would increase water production to 15 mld.
In the meantime, Hajiji said the Water Department has been asked to increase scheduled water rationing in areas badly affected by water shortages.
The state government is currently conducting a six-month feasibility study to build a 1,000 mld water treatment plant under the Kota Kinabalu Water Supply Phase III as a long-term measure to solve the water supply shortage.
Also present were State Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Yakub Khan, state secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong, State Assistant Works Minister Datuk Limus Jury and State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai. – The Vibes, October 25, 2022
