State Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi
KUCHING: Sarawak targets to replace some 2,740km of leaking or ageing water pipelines statewide in a massive billion-ringgit exercise to cut down the high rate of treated water losses along the distribution network.
The state recorded a non-revenue water (NRW) rate of 46.1% last year, compared to 26.3% in Johor and Penang, which had the country’s lowest NRW, according to the Water and Energy Consumers Association of Malaysia.
Perlis has the highest NRW at 61.5%, followed by Sabah at 55%.
Sarawak’s Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said RM1.08bil has been allocated for the replacement and upgrading of the water supply infrastructure, as rusted and outdated pipes have led to serious water leakage issues.
Some of these pipes are more than 40 years old. In addition to pipe leakages, NRW is also caused by water theft and faulty water meters.
“Across Sarawak, a total of 461 pipeline replacement and upgrading projects will be carried out over a five-year period.
“The replacement process has already begun,” said Julaihi when inspecting the Rampangi I and II scheme pipe replacement project in Kuching Division last week.
The RM1.5mil replacement project in Rampangi began in November 2024 and is expected to be completed by May this year.
He said the pipeline replacement and upgrading projects are being managed by various water authorities: Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) (420 projects costing RM588mil); Kuching Water Board (12 projects costing RM267mil); Sibu Water Board (eight projects costing RM170mil) and Northern Region’s Laku Management Sdn Bhd (21 projects costing RM90mil).
For the Kuching Division, JBALB is overseeing 24 projects with an estimated cost of RM17.6mil and spanning 59km.
Julaihi hopes that the replacement of the ageing and leaking pipes will help reduce the state’s NRW.
The ministry’s target is to bring down the NRW to 25% by 2030.
Under the Sarawak Water Supply Grid Programme (stressed areas), the Sarawak government has approved RM4bil under the Alternative Funding Scheme since 2018 to finance more than 300 water supply projects.
In addition, an allocation of up to RM809mil under the 12th Malaysia Plan has been approved to fund another 127 water projects.
As of July 2024, 288 of the total 431 projects had been completed, 44 were in various stages of works and 99 were still in the planning phase.
The projects under the grid programme include upgrading of water treatment plants, booster stations and reservoirs, as well as the extension of water pipelines to communities that can be connected to the existing water supply network.
Julaihi recently stated that another 20 new water treatment plants were in the planning stages.
These projects, outlined in the Sarawak Water Supply Masterplan, will enhance the state’s overall water production capacity.
Sarawak currently operates more than 100 water treatment plants, with plans to decommission smaller plants and repurpose them as booster stations.
Major water plants will undergo upgrades and expansions to meet increasing demand in the future.
The master plan focuses on three strategic thrusts: water demand, water treatment and distribution, and the quality and adequacy of both raw and treated water.
According to Julaihi, clean water supply coverage in Sarawak’s urban areas currently exceeds 90%, whereas in rural areas, it stands at 70%.
The target is to achieve 100% treated water supply statewide by 2030.
On the proposed restructuring of water authorities in Sarawak, Julaihi said the state government is in the final stages of merging the Kuching Water Board, Sibu Water Board and Laku Management into a single water entity.
This new entity is expected to be named by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg soon.
