Background
The Sabah State Water Department (SSWD) is a State Government agency under the Sabah Ministry of Works (SMW). Currently, SSWD operates under the Water Supply Enactment 2003 to regulate and oversee the supply and distribution of treated water to the citizens of Sabah.
There are 91 Water Treatment Plants (WTP) operating across Sabah, producing an average of 1,947 million liters of water to meet the needs of the state’s population. The water supply coverage has reached 100% of the urban population and 70% of the rural population, with a total water pipeline network length of 15,883 km.
There are 453,183 registered user accounts with JANS through 30 District Water Department across the state.
(Data as of December 2024)
History
Sabah State Water Department was established in 1962 as a Hydraulic Division in the Sabah State Public Works Department (PWD). Under the PWD administration, the PWD Director was given full responsibility to act as the State Water Authority as stated in the Sabah Water Supply Ordinance 1961.
In April 1987, the State Government decided to form a State Water Department and place it under the purview of the Ministry of Works and Communication Sabah (now known as the Ministry of Infrastructure Development).
JANS was officially formed as a full fledge department in 1st January 1988 after the amendment of the Water Supply ordinance 1961 was approved by the Sabah State Assembly Hall.
The Director of Water Department is given full authority to perform his authority, functions and responsibility as a State Water Authority under Section 2, Water Supply Ordinance 1961. The authority commenced on 1st July 1987.