Curtin Malaysia engineering students gain real-world insights at Lambir Water Treatment Plant

Miri, Sarawak – 2 September 2025 – Twenty undergraduate chemical and energy engineering students from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently gained invaluable hands-on learning during an educational visit to the Lambir Water Treatment Plant, operated by Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd.

The visit, organised by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Student Chapter at Curtin Malaysia, was aimed at bridging theory with practice by exposing the students to the real-world processes behind one of society’s most essential services – safe and reliable water supply.

Led by organising chairperson Francine Lee En Ying, a third-year chemical engineering student, and vice chairperson Ling Sheng Zhi, a first-year chemical engineering student, the group was accompanied by lecturers Dr. Bridgid Chin Lai Fui and Dr. Angnes Tiong Ngieng Tze.

Upon arrival, the students were welcomed by Ir. Ts. Gs. Dr. Geoffery Ranggu Anak Thomas, Miri Area Manager of Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd. They then attended a safety briefing and an introductory session led by Dorothy Mayang Patrick Malin, Production Executive of the plant, which also included a water conservation awareness video.

The tour began at the raw water intake, where the students saw first-hand how untreated water is drawn from natural sources including the Liku River, an inter-basin transfer system channelling water from Sungai Bakong, and 17 borewells. The group then explored critical treatment processes such as flocculation, sedimentation, and rapid sand filtration, witnessing how impurities are removed and raw water transformed into clean drinking water.

The final stop was the water quality laboratory, where the students learned about advanced testing methods and monitoring systems that safeguard public health. For many, the experience underscored the level of precision, technology, and responsibility involved in ensuring that every drop of water reaching households meets stringent safety standards.

The students also learned about the plant’s history and capacity growth – from its first module built in 1971 to the Module 4 upgrade in 2010, which boosted its production capacity to 160 million litres per day.

“This visit was truly eye-opening, providing us with valuable insights into the complex processes involved in producing safe drinking water,” said Chong Siew Wen, President of the Curtin Malaysia IChemE Student Chapter. “It underscored the vital role of advanced treatment systems in ensuring reliable water supplies for the community.”

Lee, who led the organising team, shared, “Witnessing the backwashing process and learning how the plant adapts during dry spells by relying on Sungai Liku and Sungai Bakong gave me a deeper appreciation for adaptable chemical engineering solutions.”

Dr. Geoffery expressed Sarawak Water’s pleasure in hosting the Curtin Malaysia students, saying, “We hope this visit not only gave the students valuable exposure to working-life experiences in water treatment, but also strengthened their awareness and appreciation of water as a vital resource.”

The visit to the Lambir Water Treatment Plant reflects Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to equipping students with practical industry exposure and nurturing future engineers who can contribute to solving real-world challenges in water sustainability and resource management.

For more information on the Curtin Malaysia IChemE Student Chapter, email csichemesc@gmail.com or visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/CMIChemESC.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

Group photo during the site visit to Lambir Water Treatment Plant.

Sarawak Water personnel explaining water treatment processes to the students.