KUCHING: Sarawak will reassess proposals to develop raw water storage areas at strategic locations statewide to ensure sufficient water resources to meet domestic needs and development demand by 2030.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said the move was necessary as the state continued to expand and upgrade water treatment plants and develop water transmission and distribution networks.
He said while efforts to increase water treatment capacity were important, the availability of raw water sources must also be given equal attention, particularly in facing prolonged dry seasons and El Nino phenomena.
“Looking at the situation now, raw water resources are very important. Although we already have many upgraded and newly developed water treatment plants, we still need to ensure sufficient raw water supply for the future.
“Therefore, I feel there is a need for us to reassess the proposals for raw water storage areas throughout Sarawak to meet the expected increase in demand by 2030,” he said.
He said this at the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication’s 2025 Excellent Service Award (APC) ceremony on Friday night (Aug 21).
Julaihi said five locations had been identified for the proposed development of raw water storage areas – Tebia Dam, Batang Layar Dam, Sungai Hulu Mukah Dam, Sungai Pesu Dam and Sungai Suhu Dam.
The reassessment, he said, would help ensure sufficient raw water could be channelled to existing water treatment plants as well as those currently being developed.
The matter had also been discussed at policy level between the ministry and the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) to determine the best approach to realise raw water storage in Sarawak.
“We want to ensure sufficient raw water for upgraded water treatment plants, new treatment plants and the water grid system that will be completed.
“This is not only for domestic needs, but also to ensure sufficient water supply as it is one of the essential utilities supporting the implementation of the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030,” he said.
In 2023, the Sarawak Government planned to gazette 42 new raw water storage areas statewide to facilitate better development and management of water resources.
The move was aimed at safeguarding sufficient raw water resources for processing into treated water.
