Water Supply for Lawas Community: Investigating Demand and Enhancing Distribution Efficiency

The Lawas community in Sarawak, especially in the town area, heavily depends on treated water from the Trusan Regional Water Treatment Plant (WTP) for daily water needs. However, the hilly and remote areas face several challenges, such as deteriorated water distribution, inadequate supply, and low water pressure. These issues are worsened by the increasing number of new water meter connections each year and the difficulties in supplying water to remote areas. As a result, there have been more complaints to water authorities from the community due to the impact on their essential survival needs. This study aims to comprehensively investigate, analyse, and assess water demand and residual water pressure to determine if the current water supply is sufficient for the population in Lawas. By utilising population data from the 2022 Lawas District Office and recent water pressure measurements obtained using a Pressure Gauge and Prime Log, along with water flow data collected using a Portable Ultrasonic Flow Meter (PT900), Electromagnetic Flow Meter, and Insertion Flow Meter, this research identifies the factors contributing to the inadequacy of water demand. The recommended solutions optimise water pressure and flow to ensure reliable data for future operations and maintenance. These findings provide a reference for designing an efficient water distribution system and promoting optimised water usage tailored to specific areas based on their needs.