State government intensifies measures to ensure water supply across Sarawak as current dry spell expected to last until next year

KUCHING, Aug 30 2026: Utility and Telecommunications Minister Julaihi Narawai has warned that the dry spell is expected to extend until 2027 due to El Niño conditions.

Caption: Minister Julaihi Narawi says that the water levels at several raw water sources are declining

He said the prolonged dry spell has prompted the Sarawak government to intensify mitigation measures to ensure continuity of water supply across Sarawak.

“The water levels at several raw water sources are declining,” he said, assuring that  major water supply dams, namely Bengoh, Gerugu, Assyakirin and Sika, are currently recording normal water levels,” he said in a statement.

He said areas under the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) that rely on small rivers are more susceptible to declining water levels.

He said the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, together with JBALB and Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd, is closely monitoring raw water intakes and strengthening contingency measures including deploying additional water tankers, maximising water storage facilities and coordinating alternative water supply arrangements where necessary.

“A total of 119 water tankers have been mobilised across Sarawak with cross-divisional assistance and additional tanker support from other agencies being coordinated to optimise deployment to affected areas.

“Centralised water collection centres have also been identified at potential hotspots across Sarawak,” SW said, adding that to date, nine centres have been established in Simanggang with 13 more locations identified in Betong,” he said.

Julaihi said JBALB will continue to assess conditions on the ground and establish additional centres where necessary.

He said the ongoing response to the prolonged dry weather is also being coordinated with key agencies including the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET) and Sarawak Energy.

“As part of this coordinated response, cloud seeding operations are tentatively scheduled from  Sept 3 to 5 2026, subject to suitable weather and atmospheric conditions, to support the replenishment of water sources.

“In the long term, strategic measures are essential to strengthen Sarawak’s water security and resilience against prolonged dry weather.

 “We need to revisit the potential development of selected dams and strategic water storage infrastructure to increase storage capacity, diversify raw water sources and adopt the latest technologies to ensure resilient and sustainable water supply to meet future demand, even during prolonged droughts,” said the minister.

 For 24-hour enquiries or assistance, consumers may contact JBALB or Sarawak Water as follows:  JBALB Sarawak Call Centre: 082 – 262111 Sarawak Water Call Centre: 082 – 222333/ 1-300-88-2020 (effective Sept 1, 2026)