Hajiji inspecting the progress of the Tawau Dam Project and the Cinta Mata Water Treatment Plant (WTP) during a working visit to Tawau today.
TAWAU: Water supply problems affecting residents in this district are expected to be resolved once the RM450.5 million Tawau Water Supply Scheme Phase III is completed before the end of next year.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the project, which involves the construction of a dam to supply raw water to the Cinta Mata 1 and Cinta Mata 2 Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), is progressing according to schedule.
He said the progress is a positive sign of his administration’s efforts to address the water supply issues inherited from the previous government.
“We can see that the project is progressing well and is on schedule. Although the contractor has applied for an extension of time, the important thing is that the project remains scheduled for completion before the end of 2027.
“We inherited this problem; it was not created during the tenure of the present government. However, as a responsible government, we are doing our best by allocating the necessary funds to resolve the issue and provide better facilities for the people,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Tawau Dam Project and the Cinta Mata WTP site here today.
Hajiji said the State Government is prepared to consider the need for additional funding for the project, subject to reports from the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS).
He said the Government is satisfied with the project’s performance after receiving a briefing on its implementation progress and the contractor’s achievements.
Earlier, Hajiji was briefed on the Tawau Water Supply Scheme Phase III and the Development of the Main Water Supply Infrastructure for Tawau District by JANS Monitoring Branch Assistant Director and Headquarters Project Manager, Rodney Tinggas.
He also received a briefing on the Tawau Municipal Flood-Prone Areas and the Tawau Flood Mitigation Project Plan from JPS Tawau District Engineer, Syahzarul Rizal Joddari.
According to the JANS briefing, the RM450.5 million Tawau Water Supply Scheme Phase III, which includes the construction of the Tawau Dam, had achieved 74.04 per cent physical progress as of July 25, compared with the original scheduled target of 73.89 per cent.
The project comprises the construction of a dam with a raw water storage capacity of 30 million cubic metres (MCM), as well as the installation of an 11.6-kilometre, 700-millimetre (mm) diameter raw water pipeline.
Upon completion, the dam will supply raw water to the Cinta Mata 1 WTP, Cinta Mata 2 WTP and the Northern WTP, with a combined treated water production capacity of 161 million litres per day.
According to the briefing, the project aims to ensure a reliable raw water supply to the Cinta Mata 1 and 2 WTPs and the Northern WTP, reduce the risk of raw water shortages during the dry season, and provide a sustainable source of raw water.
Among the project’s benefits are ensuring sufficient raw water supply for existing treatment plants, improving raw water quality through controlled reservoir storage, and reducing flood risks in downstream areas of Tawau.
The project, undertaken by Citic Wijaya Construction, is scheduled for completion on October 21, 2027.
During the same visit, Hajiji was also briefed on the progress of the Cinta Mata 2 WTP, which had achieved 16.08 per cent physical progress as of July 25.
The RM299.9 million project involves the construction of a water treatment plant with a capacity of 30 million litres per day (MLD), the construction of 20 MLD and 10 MLD water storage tanks, as well as the installation of 12 kilometres of treated water pipelines ranging from 150mm to 800mm in diameter.
According to JANS, the project aims to increase treated water production capacity, ensure a stable supply of clean water and provide a continuous supply of clean water to consumers.
The Cinta Mata 2 WTP is scheduled for completion on July 22, 2028 and is expected to benefit approximately 42,000 consumers in Tawau and its surrounding areas.
Tawau currently has 53,133 registered water accounts, supported by a pipeline network stretching 982.99 kilometres. However, current water production stands at only 130 MLD compared with demand of 142 MLD.
JANS also highlighted several ongoing issues affecting Tawau’s water supply system, including a Non-Revenue Water (NRW) rate of 68 per cent, ageing pipelines, water theft, insufficient water storage tanks, ageing mechanical and electrical equipment, raw water quality and quantity issues, logistical constraints and water rationing.
