SIBU: The Tanjung Manis water supply project is expected to be operational in the third quarter of the year, Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi said.
He said the Sibu Water Board was carrying out restoration work on existing facilities, including pipelines, booster stations and water treatment plants, as well as testing.
"We need to carefully check the system to ensure it is in good condition before it begins operations," he said during a visit to the raw water intake pond in Sungai Sadit near here today.
The project is set to produce and supply raw and treated water to Tanjung Manis, Belawai, Jerijeh, Rejang, Pulau Bruit and Serdeng.
Previously, the water supply project could not begin due to raw water intake issues, but they were resolved with the completion of the direct river water intake site with a capacity of 20 million litres per day (MLD) in Sungai Sadit in August last year.
The site has a pond measuring 75m x 50m x 3m, and the project costing RM16.8 million was awarded to Hock Seng Lee Bhd through an open tender.
Construction began on July 1, 2020.
The demand for treated water in Tanjung Manis and surrounding areas is about 8.4 MLD, with supply coming from the Bayong Water Treatment Plant under the state Rural Water Supply Department.
With the Tanjung Manis water supply project, Tanjung Manis and nearby areas will have two sources of treated water supply.