KUBU RAYA, thekabarnews.com—The Indonesian government has begun constructing a new water treatment plant in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan. This is part of an effort to expand access to reliable and better-quality water in one of the province’s fastest-growing areas.

House of Representatives Commission V chair Lasarus and Kubu Raya Regent Sujiwo attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the Arang Limbung facility. Perumdam Tirta Raya operates the facility in the Sungai Raya district on Monday, August 24.

The central government-funded project has an estimated budget of nearly Rp89 billion. It will add two treatment units, each capable of processing 50 liters per second. The plant will have a combined capacity of 100 liters per second.

At full continuous operation, that capacity would theoretically equal about 8.64 million liters a day. Actual household coverage, however, will depend on the availability and reach of transmission pipes, distribution networks and customer connections.

“The need for clean water in West Kalimantan is extremely time-sensitive, and Kubu Raya is one clear example,” Lasarus said.

“The central government must pay attention because providing clean water is one of the solutions for improving people’s welfare,” he added.

Acting Drinking Water Director at the Public Works Ministry Sugeng Paryanto said the multiyear project would continue until mid-2027.

The work includes not only treatment units but also additional distribution infrastructure needed to deliver water to residents.

“This is an initial step toward meeting the basic needs of Kubu Raya residents, particularly in drinking-water services. We are building a capacity of 100 liters per second and will complement it with a distribution network,” Sugeng said.

Earlier project information indicated that the expanded system could support around 7,000 additional household connections. This benefit would go to Sungai Raya and surrounding communities.

Perumdam Tirta Raya has identified Sungai Raya Dalam, Wonodadi II and several residential areas as priority service zones.

Kubu Raya has a population approaching 700,000 across an area of about 8,500 square kilometers. This is according to information presented by the local government during the groundbreaking.

The regency’s large territory and scattered settlements create additional challenges for extending piped-water services.

Lasarus said the current allocation covered only part of Kubu Raya’s wider infrastructure requirements.

“If we examine the overall need, we still have an enormous amount of work ahead. The present budget can meet only a small part of the service requirement. Therefore, further development support remains necessary,” Lasarus said.

Regent Sujiwo welcomed the project as concrete central-government support at a time when the regency has limited fiscal capacity.

“We are deeply grateful for the attention and efforts of Commission V of the DPR. Amid the region’s financial constraints, this development means a great deal to the people of Kubu Raya,” Sujiwo said.

The regent previously said clean-water services affect public health and investment, making the project one of his administration’s priorities.

In May, the Kubu Raya administration pledged to monitor construction quality and ensure that procurement followed applicable standards.

According to the groundbreaking announcement, authorities must now coordinate construction of the plant and its distribution network. This coordination ensures the additional production capacity translates into dependable water at residents’ homes.