Tenom: A new RM42 million water treatment plant (WTP) in Melalap is expected to provide a long-term solution to the persistent water supply woes affecting residents in Melalap and its surrounding areas, here, when the WTP is completed by 2030.
Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar (pic), who is also the Melalap assemblyman, said the project, funded by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), will enhance the capacity and reliability of the water supply system to meet growing demand and support development in the area.
He said the project’s design has been completed and is now awaiting the Sabah Water Department to call for construction tenders, which are expected to be advertised by the end of this year.
“If the process goes smoothly, construction is expected to take between three and four years, with completion targeted by 2030.
“Once completed, Melalap residents will benefit from a new water treatment plant capable of meeting the area’s overall water supply needs,” he told reporters here on Monday.
Jamawi said the plant will have a production capacity of up to three million litres of treated water per day, significantly increasing supply capacity while reducing the water disruptions that have long affected residents.
He said Melalap currently depends on the Senagang Water Treatment Plant and the Tenom Lama Water Treatment Plant for its water supply.
“The new Melalap facility will strengthen the existing system and ensure a more stable and sufficient water supply, particularly as demand increases with the growth of Melalap township as a development area and economic growth centre,” he said.
Jamawi said the implementation of the project reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring rural communities have access to better-quality, reliable and adequate water supply while supporting Melalap’s future socio-economic development.
