In ushering this lunar new year of the Tiger, allow me once again to remind everyone to be moderate in using piped water.
We should not forget that there is a need to do conservation especially during this dry spell.
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Dear YB,
Our input on the dry spell;
The current dry spell has caused few dams to dry up to risky levels. Chaos is the next thing we need during dry spells. While climate change will continue to alter rain patterns, we should buckle up.
Few years ago, we have advised the water operators to run their emergency response plan. This is to ensure consumers respond well and help water operators to coordinate the actual emergency situation. Till date, we have last minute mentality.
If we were to fight water scarcity, what should be our next step?
(i) Protect all water catchment areas and potential future water catchment areas. If we plan to discharge toxic material to a river, we cannot reverse this if there is an emergency. Future planning of water resources is vital. Economically planning of land-use becomes important, this falls under the state government through local councils.
(ii) Emergency drill should be carried out in stages to all consumers. This will help to streamline information dissemination, communication barriers and consumers’ preparedness. During crisis, sudden practice will be a shock and created uneasiness. Based on our field study, people in Malacca will have trauma when their taps start dripping. This is due to the worst draught faced by them few years ago. This must be prevented.
(iii) Cross channeling of treated water in between piping network must be developed. Stand alone piping network is not a viable solution. This also falls back to planning of treatment plant. Water treatment plants should not run on full capacity, there should be reserves to accommodate fluctuation during crisis.
(iv) Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in average for 2008 is close to 37%. In addition to that, non-domestic treated water consumption has increased by 6% from 2007 to 2008. While domestic use of treated water is high, stress from industrial water use must be catered as well. Reduction of NRW should be placed as the main Key Performance Index to Water Operators and regulator.
(v) Reduction of treated water wastage is another important component. Water saving gadgets such as low flow tabs, as well as dual flush system are some solutions. In addition to that, reuse of grey water (water previously used for washing vegetable or clothes) can reduce dependency towards treated water for flushing and other basic cleaning processes.
(vi) Industries must play a vital role in reducing water consumption by adopting green technologies to reuse and recycle water. This will assist the industry to reduce its water bill as well as increase its environmental performance. Industries that move towards this must be encouraged via the green technology funding established by Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water.
(vii) Utilization of hydroelectric dams as source of raw water for irrigation and water treatment must be considered. In fact, the lower level of water in a dam is not suitable for treatment. Flooding of dam causes the water quality in such areas to deteriorate due to high nutrient content. Aeration (mixing of air bubbles) has been a successful method to improve the raw water quality. This process also allows water treatment cost to be kept low.
WECAM sees as water crisis now as failure to plan. Incidents such as this can be prevented or even kept under control if measures mentioned above are put in place. Malaysia is moving towards a developed nation, it is vital for us to keep our water services at best level to ensure that life goes on.
Future is in your hands.
Dear Piara,
Thank you for your comments which are already been looked into by my officers dealing with water. I do agree that we cannot predict what will happen over the next few months. Some say the “El Ninio” that is presently around is a weak one but yet others are saying that it maybe more pronounced than we think. Whatever the true situation, it is better for us to be better prepared. The country will be celebrating World Water Day at Muar, Johor on 27th March and YAB Deputy Prime Minister will officiate. I will be pleased if you can join me and our DPM for the event.
Dear YB,
Thank you for the invitation. WECAM is part of the World Water Day celebration and we will definitely be there. In fact, on the 20th March 2010 we are doing a clean-up session in Bukit Larut, Taiping, Perak in conjunction of World Water Day. This is a water catchment areas that is being planned for ‘Mass Tourism’. Many visitors and regulars there also join us to clean up over the 13 km stretch over 1200 meters above sea level. People like ‘Cikgu Lim’, ‘Pak Long’ and ‘Mr Guna’ has been very cooperative despite of their old age and not forgetting the young volunteers.
A good quality drinking water must come from a good quality water source. Let us Malaysians ensure that water catchments are protected so that, we do not leave the future generation in THIRST.
Once again, thank you YB for inviting me (and my team).