‘Phase 1 of Kuching centralised sewerage now operational’
The objective of the sewerage master plan is to ensure that all used water is collected before being discharged into the environment. This way, we can have a better quality environment and clean sources of water. — Lau Hieng Ung, Sarawak Sewerage Services Department director
KUCHING: The city’s centralised sewerage, which commenced with the commissioning of a master plan in 2003, and later the physical implementation of Phase1 in 2008, is now operating according to plan.
State Sewerage Services Department director Lau Hieng Ung said the state government would continue to bid for more funds to complete the master plan, aimed at protecting the environment and improving the quality of water in Sarawak River. Some RM1.28 billion out of the estimated cost of RM4 billion has been allocated.
“The objective of the sewerage master plan is to ensure that all used water is collected before being discharged into the environment. This way, we can have a better quality environment and clean sources of water,” Lau said when contacted yesterday.
He added that once the sewerage master plan reached materialisation, it would be able to provide sewerage services to 800,000 population equivalent (PE), covering the city right up to Mile 5.
“However, I can’t tell you when we would reach the target. But in every Malaysia Plan, we continue to bid for more funds from the federal government,” he said.
On the progress of the current works on the RM750 million (Package II) of the Kuching City Wastewater Management System, which commenced on Sept 15, Lau said it had reached 1.5 per cent.
“Works on the project is a little bit ahead of schedule. Normally in the initial stage of construction, the progress is rather slow due to many factors including carrying out soil investigation/test and undertaking ‘pilot trenching’ to find the most suitable locations for the 60 major manholes.”
Technically, pilot trenching means that the contractor would carry out investigation on the best locations for the major manholes to avoid cables and water mains.
However, he assured all that the project should reach completion on schedule, which is expected by 2023.
Package II will provide sewerage services to 40,000 PE in Petra Jaya such as those at Jalan Astana and Kampung Gita, once it reaches completiond in six years’ time.
The contractors for the project are under Kumpulan-NishimatsuHock Seng Lee Consortium – the same ones who undertook and completed Package I.
The sewerage planning for the state capital began with the implementation of Package I of the Kuching City Wastewater Management System, which was commissioned in October 2008.
The project reached completion on Jan 31, 2015, at a total cost of RM530 million.