KUCHING CITY TO GET CHEAPER, ECO-FRIENDLY WASTE-WATER SYSTEM

KUCHING (Malaysia), Oct 20 (Bernama) -- A new study for integrating
centralised waste-water system for Kuching City can be stablished for about two-thirds of the cost of a conventional solution.

State public health and environment ministry permanent secretary Ganie Ugay
said the study, expected to provide an ecologically, friendly option, was
jointly undertaken by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak
and Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

He said the study found that the annual costs for operation,
maintenance,
service and repair of the proposed solution would cost about RM7 million, which
is less costly than the centralised conventional one.

"Much has been said about poor water quality in the rivers of Kuching City.
One of the culprits is the direct discharge of untreated sewage into these
rivers, which pollute the water with organic matters and give rise to foul
odours," he added.

Ganie was speaking at the workshop, 'Study On The Options For Integrating
Centralised Waste-water Systems With Non-piped Ecological Sanitation Systems And
Other Emerging Wastewater Systems for Kuching City" here Monday.

Kuching is the capital of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak.