Second water treatment plant expected to solve water supply issue in Pitas, says Mahdzir

KOTA KINABALU: The clean water supply issue in Pitas district is expected to be solved when the second water treatment plant is completed in November next year.

Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the plant costing RM37.8mil will benefit folk in 30 villages there.

The facility with 10 million litre-per-day (JLH) capacity is expected to boost clean water supply, which is currently catered by the existing plant with a capacity of 4 JLH.

"With this addition, Pitas will have 14 JLH of clean water supply.

"But I know there are still villages which have yet to get (clean water supply), thus the capacity should be added at least 10 JLH more in future," he said, adding that further phases might be planned later.

Mahdzir said this on Monday (Oct 18) after visiting the hardcore poor housing aid (PPRT) recipients at Bina Baharu in Kampung Tanjung Batu, Kota Marudu.

Mahdzir earlier did a site visit to the water plant and was briefed on the rural development plans for Pitas, as part of his three-day working visit to Sabah.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also state Public Works Minister.

Mahdzir also proposed that a special committee be formed to strengthen efforts between his ministry and the Environment and Water Ministry (Kasa) to solve water supply issues in rural areas.

"This includes upgrading related infrastructures such as water treatment plants, distribution systems and old piping.

“The are reticulation allocations under our ministry but there are also those under Kasa, thus there needs to be a collaboration as the goal is the same, which is to provide the rural folk with this basic amenity," he added.