KUCHING: Repair works on a major water pipeline supplying large parts of Kuching and Petra Jaya have been completed, with follow-up infrastructure strengthening now underway to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Batu Kitang state assemblyman, Datuk Lo Khere Chiang, said the damaged pipeline, a critical main line supplying treated water from Batu Kitang to Kuching and Petra Jaya, has been fully repaired after earlier failures at three locations.
He said the 1.05-metre-diameter pipeline is a key component of the state’s water supply system, serving a wide catchment area including Satok, Padungan, Batu Kawa and Petra Jaya.
“Any disruption to the pipeline has an immediate and widespread impact on consumers.
“When this pipe has a problem, many areas are affected, not only Kuching town, but also Batu Kawa and Petra Jaya. That is why this pipe is very important,” he told reporters during the Borneo International Consumers Expo (BICE) 2026 at the Metrocity Convention Centre today.
Additionally, Lo said, following the pipe repair, attention has shifted to stabilising the surrounding embankment, which had collapsed and contributed to the earlier damage.
“Work is currently focused on reconstructing the embankment before the road is reinstated above it,” he said.
He said a temporary road is being constructed to restore traffic flow, with the Public Works Department (PWD) acting swiftly to minimise disruption.
“When I met PWD, I requested that the temporary road be strengthened with concrete. They acted immediately and did it that very night. By tomorrow morning, the temporary road will be completed,” he said.
He added that traffic conditions along 7th Mile and in the Batu Kitang area have improved, with no major congestion reported since the temporary access was completed.
“There is no jam there, and that is what makes me happy. Traffic is moving,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said Sarawak Water has proposed longer-term engineering solutions to prevent future failures, including increasing the size of the pipeline’s support structures and elevating the pipe above ground level instead of burying it within the embankment.
“When an embankment becomes saturated, the ground can exert heavy pressure on underground pipes, causing them to shift and potentially rupture,” he said.
Lo said PWD has indicated a completion timeline of about three weeks for the current works, subject to weather conditions.
“If the weather is good, it can be done in three weeks. If not, it may take slightly longer. But that is acceptable because this is a temporary road. What is most important is that the work is done properly,” he said.
He stressed that quality workmanship is critical to preventing repeat repairs and future disruptions.
“If the work is not done well, even a small defect will cause problems later. We want to prevent this from happening again,” he said.
