Pantai 2 STP project and community centre to cater to growing population The Star, December 12, 2013 IT MIGHT be hard to believe now but in the future, one of the best spots to hang out at might just be a sewerage treatment plant if it looks anything like the Pantai 2 STP (P2STP) that is currently being constructed. The first of its kind in the country, the P2STP is a project that looks to the future and is touted to set a new standard in liveability. One of the most looked forward to portion of this RM983mil project is the planned above-ground public facilities, which will include a community hall, jogging track, sports courts such as tennis, basketball, futsal and football. Sewerage Services Department (JPP) director Datuk Mohd Akhir Md Jiwa said that for many, such projects would come by only once in a lifetime. The Pantai sewerage catchment area, the largest of eight in Kuala Lumpur, is some 6,700ha and though the current combined capacities of the existing Pantai STP and Pantai 1 is for 877,000 pe, currently serves 1 million pe. It is projected that by 2016 when the P2STP is due to be completed, replacing the existing aerated lagoon-type Pantai STP, the new plant along with Pantai 1 will have a reserve capacity of 800,000 pe. Public information states that the catchment area covers the central and south-western parts of Kuala Lumpur including Bandar Batu Sentul, the proposed Sentul Raya Development, Central Business District, Bukit Kiara, the Botanical Gardens and even a portion of Petaling Jaya. Generally, an underground facility costs 12% more to construct compared to a typical above-ground lagoon-type but Akhir explained that the said design was chosen to cater to the 17,750 residents living in the vicinity. “This design allows us to create something the residents can use as well as achieving our objective of meeting the future demand of the catchment area,” he said. According to him, neighbouring countries such as Singapore are using systems that have covered tanks housed inside buildings, while Thailand’s is placed within a multi-storey building that is indistinguishable from the next building. Akhir is also confident the many problems faced at the existing aerated lagoon STP -- one of them being the unbearable stench -- will not be a problem with the odour treatment system that will be built. “When one designs an STP regardless of its size, one of the main considerations is odour and there are many established designs to handle that,” he said. As with many new projects of today, the P2STP also tries to be as green as possible. “As per our above-ground plans, we have cascading pools within the park but these serve a dual purpose where the bottom will be clear so light is able to filter through during the day and light up the walkways within the underground facility,” he said. Apart from that, the park’s electricity needs such as lamp posts will be powered by a biogas machine that converts the gases released from the facility while internal facility lighting will be channelled from solar panels. Effluent will also be recycled and rainwater harvester for the fountains as well as use in road cleaning and plant watering. A wastewater-source heat pump will be installed for the purpose of air-conditioning cooling system, thus saving the need of getting the source from the Water Supply Department. Akhir said Indah Water Konsortium was well prepared to take over the P2STP and no foreign expertise would be needed to operate and maintain the facility. “There may be a few training sessions to use one or two of the newer equipment but otherwise, it is not that much different,” he said, adding that they would be proposing that IWK take over the management of the public facilities. Along with this mega project, JPP has also undertaken the task of upgrading the sewage network in the catchment area and have tendered out all six packages worth RM617mil in total. The works also include the upgrading, repairing or rationalising (decommission and shut down) of sewage treatment plants in the area. |