The rate of access to water supply in Brunei Darussalam is currently at 99.9 per cent, with 76.0 per cent of the supply meeting World Health Organization quality standards.
This was highlighted by Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid during the Second Meeting of the 21st Legislative Council Session yesterday.
To further improve these figures, the Department of Water Services continues to implement various initiatives, including strengthening the water supply network, maintaining water tanks, and upgrading water treatment plants across all districts.
The Stage 8 Treatment Plant Construction Project in Bukit Barun, Tutong District, expected to be completed in March 2027, will increase clean water for the Brunei-Muara District with a production capacity of around 120 million litres of clean water per day.
The project to increase the water production capacity of the Agis-Agis Water Treatment Plant in Sungai Liang, Belait District, expected to be completed in November 2026, will increase the water production capacity by approximately 36 million litres of water per day.
The Batang Duri Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project in the Temburong District, expected to be opened for bids in December, aims to increase water production capacity from five million litres per day to 20 million litres of water per day.
These are among the main projects being implemented, said the minister, adding that with the completion of these projects, the country’s total clean water production capacity will increase from 413 million litres per day to 587 million litres per day.
The additional capacity will provide the country’s water supply with more security for future generations and is also in preparation to meet water needs in supporting population growth and industrial development. The minister shared that pipe replacement is being implemented under the 12th National Development Plan (RKN12), to increase the resilience of the water supply network system by 160 kilometres. The ministry has also implemented restoration and reoperation works on seven main water tanks – Lugu Water Tank (old); Batong Water Tank; Sungai Bunga Water Tank; Pulau Water Tank; Baru-baru, Lakiun Tank; Selapon Tank; and Mentiri Water Transfer Tank.
To date, the implementation of the Smart Water Meter (USMS) is 37.8 per cent, or 48,765 out of 128,879 units of water metres have been installed in phases, with the target of reaching 100 per cent by 2027. The USMS project is a strategic step to reduce the rate of non-revenue water and overcome the issue of outstanding bills by providing clear transparency of water usage.
Among the main projects being implemented are waste generation and recycling rate; construction of a “waste to energy” (WtE) Plant; empowering the local recycling industry; food waste management initiative (eco food waste initiative); Belia Brunei Nadi Alam Sekitar Programme (BRUNAS Youth); flood mitigation projects and upgrading the drainage system and water pump station.
Preparation of bids for drain widening works and the construction of concrete drains is also being implemented for the Jerudong Drainage Repair Project Phase 2 and Drainage Upgrading Project in the Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College area.
The bid for the project ‘Brunei Darussalam Drainage Master Plan Study and Floodplain Management Study for Sungai Belait and Temburong’ is in the evaluation stage, where the study will assist in adapting the design of a more effective drainage system through real-time data and flood modelling to address the impacts of climate change.
The bid for the Kampong Danau coastal area protection study project in the Tutong District, a project to control coastal erosion due to climate impacts, is in the bid evaluation process to be implemented.
(News & pic source: Borneo Bulletin)
