Malaysia is anticipated to face extreme water shortages within the coming years until water conservation is taken extra critically by customers and companies, specialists say.
Audio system on the UN International Compact Community Malaysia & Brunei’s Future Leaders of Water Sustainability 2024 convention stated that proactive measures from the federal government and the general public had been wanted to avert a water disaster within the nation of 34 million folks.
Charles Santiago, chairman of the Nationwide Water Providers Fee (SPAN), Malaysia’s water company, stated water administration in Malaysia is primarily affected by two components – non-revenue water (NRW) and overconsumption – each of which have to be tackled urgently.
Talking on a panel dialogue on water safety, Santiago stated NRW had resulted in billions of ringgits in financial losses for the nation in recent times.
NRW is the distinction between the amount of water put right into a water distribution system and the amount that’s billed to prospects.
“We misplaced one thing like eight billion ringgit (US$1.7 billion) on account of leaking pipes between 2018 and 2022. If we don’t repair it, then within the subsequent 5 years that 8 billion ringgit will balloon to 16 and even 17 billion ringgit,” he stated, urging the authorities to make sure the water techniques are higher maintained to cut back losses.
“We’re guzzlers. We devour one thing like 245 litres per day. And in Penang, folks devour 300 litres per day. However the advice by the World Well being Organisation is barely 160 litres per day.”
“If we don’t lower our water consumption, we’re going to face a disaster.”
Santiago stated that the notion that “water is absolutely inexpensive” is the primary cause why companies and customers are “losing it”.
Malaysia’s water tariff is the fourth lowest in Southeast Asia, at RM1.22 (US$0.25) per cubic metre. This compares to RM1.37 (US0.29) per cubic metre in Vietnam, RM1.68 (US$0.35) in Thailand, RM2.92 (US$0.62) within the Philippines and RM5.88 (US$1.27) in Singapore.
On account of the perceived low price of water in addition to different components equivalent to local weather change, Malaysia is going through a discount in water carrying capability.
Subang Jaya assemblywoman Michelle Ng Mei Sze shared the same concern. She stated that Malaysia is anticipated to face a drought in 2025, which may have an effect on the water provide throughout the nation.
Ng identified that the rising demand for water in Selangor because the inhabitants grows may imply acute water shortages within the coming years.
Water demand for the state of Selangor is anticipated to achieve 9,000 million litres per day by 2065 because of rising inhabitants. Picture: Michelle Ng
“By 2065, we are anticipated to devour about 9,000 million litres of water per particular person per day. It could appear that we now have a provide subject, and as a authorities, our instant response would often be to construct extra water remedy vegetation. However really, we even have a requirement subject,” she stated.
Ng added that the common water consumption per particular person per day in Malaysia is presently 209 litres and state authorities are attempting to cut back consumption ranges to 160 litres per particular person per day by 2030.
In the meantime, Santiago emphasised the necessity to preserve water by lowering consumption and blanket water subsidies, which range by state. In Pahang, Terengganu and Kedah states, water tariffs haven’t modified for many years, he famous.
Even with an common enhance to the value of water of twenty-two cents throughout the nation from February, water operators are nonetheless offering subsidies, he stated.
The common price of manufacturing per litre in Malaysia is presently about RM1.72 (US$0.36) however customers are presently paying RM1.22 (US$0.26) per litre.
“Whereas we would like the federal government to maintain it [water] inexpensive, we as folks want to make sure that we preserve water.”
“It’s necessary when it comes to conservation, to take a look at our water footprint. We’re at all times carbon footprint. However let’s additionally take a look at our water footprint too,” he stated.
