TAWAU, Sabah: The long-standing water supply problems in Tawau are expected to be resolved before the end of next year with the completion of the RM450.5-million Tawau Water Supply Scheme Phase III project.
Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, said the project, which includes the construction of a dam to supply raw water to the Cinta Mata 1 and Cinta Mata 2 Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), was progressing according to schedule despite the contractor seeking an extension of time.
“We are pleased with the project’s progress, which is on schedule. Although the contractor has applied for an extension, the important thing is that it is still scheduled for completion before the end of 2027.
“We inherited this problem. It did not arise under the current state government, but as a responsible administration, we are doing our best by allocating funds to resolve it and provide better facilities for the people,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Tawau Dam and Cinta Mata 2 WTP construction sites here today.
He said the state government was also prepared to consider additional funding for the project if required, subject to reports from the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).
Earlier, JANS Monitoring Branch’s senior assistant director and project manager, Rodney Tinggas, said construction of the Tawau Dam under Phase III of the Tawau Water Supply Scheme had reached 74.04 per cent completion as of July 25 and would reduce flood risks in downstream Tawau.
The project comprises a dam with a raw water storage capacity of 30 million cubic metres and the installation of 11.6 kilometres of 700-millimetre raw water supply pipelines to the Cinta Mata 1, Cinta Mata 2 and Utara WTPs, which will have a combined treated water production capacity of 161 million litres per day.
The RM299.9-million Cinta Mata 2 WTP, scheduled for completion on July 22, 2028, with a treatment capacity of 30 million litres per day, had achieved 16.08 per cent physical progress as of July 25 and is expected to benefit about 42,000 consumers in Tawau and surrounding areas.
Tawau has 53,133 registered water accounts, while current water production stands at only 130 million litres per day against demand of 142 million litres per day. – BERNAMA
