Single billing system for water and sewage

LABUAN: The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water today introduced the integrated or single billing system for water supply and sewage service.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the implementation was part of the government's effort to enhance its green concept practice.

"The implementation will facilitate transactions without consumers having to go from one office to another to settle water and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) bills," he told a media conference after launching the system here on Tuesday.

He said the system would be expanded to Putrajaya and other states serviced by IWK.

"It might take about six months to one year to expand the system to other states," said Maximus.

According to him, more than 8,000 of the estimated 21,000 water bill account holders here are not serviced by IWK as the sewage pipe at their residence are not directly connected to the consortium's sewage treatment plant.

"Only 6,400 water bill account holders have their residences' sewage pipe connected to IWK sewage treatment plant; there is still a big chunk left unconnected," he said.

Maximus said his ministry has the master plan to assist houseowners to connect their sewage pipe to the IWK sewage treatment plant.

"We want all residential houses to be connected to the sewage treatment plant. For new residences, there should be no problem. We can fund for a distance of more than 30 metres from the house to the treatment plant.

"But for a distance of within or below 30 metres, the expenses must be borne by the houseowners," he said.

He said close cooperation between the local authority and the ministry in the full implementation of the sewage system in the residential areas is vital. - Bernama