BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 22 : The lack of quantity and quality of clean water in the Sultanate may no longer be an issue following the signing to upgrade Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant Construction Project at the Public Works Department (JKR) headquarters in the capital.

Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Suhaimi attended as the guest of honour.

Recent years have seen water supply disruptions in some areas in Brunei-Muara, such as RPN Kampong Lambak Kanan, Kampong Subok and Kampong Lumapas increasing, with findings from an environmental study on manganese and other mineral contents along Sungai Tutong showing that the quality of raw water from the river is inconsistent, in terms of minerals and impurities.

“Frequent weather changes, rainfalls and floods around the Sungai Tutong catchment often result in increased mineral content, such as manganese and iron, exceeding the treatment capacity limits of the original design of the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant (Stage 4 and 5),” JKR Acting Director-General Ir Mohd Salleh Abdul Karim said.

“The situation contributes to the inability of the plant to fully handle the raw water treatment process, contributing to the occurrence of complaints of lack of water and yellow water problems,” he said, adding that the plant has been operating for almost 30 years.

For the short-term, the JKR is implementing a project to upgrade the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant which is in its Phase 2.

Through the 11th National Development Plan, several projects will be implemented to address the issue surrounding clean water supply.

 - ANN