TANJUNG MANIS: Minister of Public Utilities, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi on Monday witnessed the handing over of Sekumang Booster Station, which comprised Package 8 of the Tanjung Manis Water Supply Phase 1, here.
General Manager of the Sibu Water Board (SWB), Sudin Jaya handed over the station to Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (RWSD) Director, Ir. Daniel Wong Park Ing.
Water supply to Tanjung Manis, Rejang, Belawai, Jerijeh, Serdeng and Pulau Bruit is from Sarikei Bayong Treatment Plant via Bulat Reservoir to Sg Baji Booster Station; the water passes through a 21-km pipe track crossing two rivers, namely, Rejang River and Semareng River, before reaching Sekumang High Level Tank at Tanjung Manis.
Consumers have been besieged by the aging and frequent bursting of the pumping main along the 21 km pipe track to Tanjung Manis. Water supply has to be interrupted for repair work at least once per month.
With the frequent bursts, the consumers, especially at Belawai, Rejang, and Jerijeh, faced unstable and frequent interruption of water supply.
During a meeting at the Ministry of Public Utilities in December last year, it was agreed that Sarawak RWSD should utilise the Sekumang Booster Station which was completed under Package 8 of the Tanjung Manis Water Supply Phase 1.
The main objectives of utilization of the Sekumang Booster Station are to reduce the pumping pressure from Sarikei, thus reducing the chances of pipe bursts, to increase the volume of water supplied to Tanjung Manis and additional water storage in Tanjung Manis.
