SAWAS (Sarawak Alternative Water Supply)  is an initiative of the Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Utilities & Telecommunication Sarawak to provide water supply to isolated settlements that have yet to have safe and clean water. The implementation of SAWAS is one of medium towards achieving Sarawak's vision of 100% water supply coverage by 2030.

There are some areas which the main pipe water to these remote areas would take many years to reach the communities, and some areas unable to reach by the main grid. Most of the isolated areas are undertaken by SAWAS program where SAWAS is a stop gap to provide basic amenities in term of safe and clean water.

As part of the mission and vision of JBALB Sarawak to;

• proposed simple and less maintenance of water supply system (preferable Gravity Feed System) 

• System suitable for operation and maintenance within the local communities competency

• No or less power requirements needed  

• Low operation and maintenance 

• Training will be given within competence of local community.

JBALB, or in English as Rural Water Supply Department, is a department formed to replace roles and responsibilities of Jabatan Kerja Raya JKR Waterworks. JBALB is a separate entity from JKR, under different Ministry. However, it is still a Sarawak state government agency.

JBALB covers water supply mostly at rural areas in Sarawak. In Sarawak, there are 4 water supply agencies which are Kuching Water Board (covers Kuching city and Kota Samarahan, including some Kuching outskirts area), Sibu Water Board (covers most of Sibu town and outskirts area), LAKU Management Sdn. Bhd. (covers Bintulu - Samalaju, Miri city and Limbang district) and JBALB (covers mostly rural areas apart from rural areas covered by the other three agencies).

JBALB is responsible for operation, maintenance, supply and development of treated water supply under its jurisdiction. However, JBALB doesn't cover alternative water supply operation and maintenance, although JBALB may involve in development of such projects. For further information on alternative water supply, kindly refer to Jabatan Kesihatan Bahagian for gravity feed water supply, and Jabatan Mineral and Geosains for underground water supply.