ADDRESSING the issue of water supply, especially in rural areas, has been a longstanding challenge.
The constraints of water distribution systems in delivering treated water to specific regions involve factors primarily related to topography and the location of treatment plants.
Harvesting rainwater
The Rainwater Harvesting System (RHS), also known as Sistem Penuaian Air Hujan (SPAH), is a water conservation concept where rainwater is collected, stored, and utilised for cleaning, washing, and irrigation, among others.
It is an effective method in reducing dependency on treated water supplies.
According to Malaysia's National Hydraulic Research Institute, up to 34 per cent of monthly domestic water usage can be replaced with rainwater.
While RHS has been widely adopted in China, India, Germany, Australia, and South Korea, among others, its acceptance and awareness remain relatively low in Malaysia.
Despite the government's introduction of SPAH in 1999, knowledge and interest in RHS remain low, except in states like Sabah and Sarawak, where notable installations have been observed in residential and school settings.
The RHS serves as an ideal alternative water supply source and, if better communicated, could contribute to optimising rainwater resources, addressing environmental concerns and mitigating flooding issues caused by heavy rainfall.
The RHS comprises four main elements: collection area, drainage and filtration system, storage tank, and water distribution system.
Construction considerations include spatial and location suitability, user access, elevation, soil conditions, potential obstacles, distance to distribution points, safety, and compliance with relevant guidelines, policies, and laws.
Construction costs vary based on material types, location, technical aspects like collection area elevation, drain length, filter types, and distribution method, whether gravity-fed or mechanical (requiring pump installation).
Usages
The harvested water from RHS can serve both domestic and non-domestic purposes. Domestic applications include plant irrigation, toilet flushing, and daily household activities such as car washing and floor cleaning.
Non-domestic uses involve agricultural irrigation, landscape watering, fire suppression, and industrial and commercial cooling processes.
Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), RHS indirectly supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well Being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
RHS installations raise awareness, impart new knowledge, and enhance understanding of issues related to water conservation and sustainable management.
Terengganu's case study
Given Terengganu's abundant rainfall, especially during the monsoon season, the state has great potential for RHS implementation. The systematic flow of RHS not only optimise rainwater resources but also aids in flood prevention by managing rainwater runoff.
The successful RHS project at a local mosque in Terengganu, initiated by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) through the Service Learning Malaysia Universiti For Society (Sulam) initiative, serves as a notable example.
This project, supported financially by UMT's Centre for Knowledge Transfer, Industry and Community Network engaged students taking the Water and Wastewater Treatment Technology course from the Faculty of Science and Marine Environment.
The Sulam initiative combines learning objectives with community service, embodying High-Impact Educational Practices by allowing students to interact with the community while applying theoretical knowledge in practical settings.
By comprehensively planning and implementing RHS installations across the country, the nation can effectively harness the wealth of rainwater resources and manage rainwater runoff, addressing annual flood issues.
The writer is senior lecturer at Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, UMT and Centre for Sustainable Management, UMT.