Awang Tengah (left) inspecting the Lubau water treatment plant near Betong, accompanied by a team of JKR engineers.

KUCHING: People in Betong have been assured that the water woes hitting the division would be over soon as a water pump has been installed at the Lubau treatment plant.

According to Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the facility is expected to be operational today – although not in full capacity as only one pump is being run for now.

Yesterday, the minister visited the plant to assess the damage there due to the recent flooding, assuring locals that he had instructed engineers from the Public Works Department (JKR) to take the necessary actions immediately.

“The authority is doing its level best to ensure that the problem would be solved the soonest for the convenience of the people in Betong,” he said.

A JKR engineer, Mihan Johai, said the pump arrived at the plant around 2am yesterday from here.

“It took us more than four hours to install the pump, which is one of the four pumps damaged by flood waters at the plant.

“The refilling of the reservoir would also take some time before the water could be distributed to consumers.”

Meanwhile Awang Tengah said steps were also being e taken to ensure that the treatment plant would not be affected by floods in the future.

According to him, 30 lorries are used by JKR to deliver water to the affected people on daily basis.