THE two water cuts in Selangor in four days highlight a longstanding water problem.
Water cuts should not be a thing in Malaysia, not because we are aspiring to be a first world nation, but because of the water resources we have.
We have 189 river basins, we receive almost 3,000mm of annual rainfall and we can access seawater easily. Malaysia should have no water shortage at all.
But water shortages have become common in Selangor or Kuala Lumpur. Residents will complain, but as soon as taps run again, all is forgotten until the next cut.
We have a water problem. It is time to do everything we can to prevent a “next time”.
Water security is a term most Malaysians are unfamiliar with. However, this is not the case for Singapore. We should take a leaf out of Singapore’s book on improving water security.
Malaysians get water mainly from rivers. However, as evidenced by Syabas’ woes, this is a problem.
Our reliance on rivers mean that anything unforeseen, such as pollution cases, or war and sabotage, will leave millions of people and various industries without water. We must diversify our water sources.
Firstly, we should look into stormwater management. With an annual 3,000mm rainfall, we generate a lot of runoff every time it rains. The runoff enters drains and sewers before being discharged into water bodies.
The problem is that we do not direct this source of water to treatment plants. Although the runoff will pick up a lot of pollutants from city pavements and sewer systems, we can treat the water for potable use.
Another huge untapped source of water is seawater. Malaysia has easy access to the South China Sea and Straits of Malacca. Building desalination plants along the coast will alleviate water stress.
Singapore’s Tuas Desalination Plant can generate 30 million gallons of water a day. Desalination, while costly, is one of the more viable options we can rely on in an emergency. Desalinated water can be used for industrial purpose, relieving stress on our rivers.
Lastly, NEWater, a project headed by Kampar-born Olivia Lum, represents Singapore’s hope for water security post-2061, when the water agreement with Malaysia ends.
NEWater turns wastewater (sewage) into safe, drinkable water. This shows how far ahead Singapore is when it comes to water security.
NEWater shows there are creative ways to get water sustainably from alternative sources.
The literature on water management in Malaysia is almost non-existent. However, now is the time to make changes to our water policy. We need to preempt and prepare for an uncertain future.
I will end with a translation of a Malay proverb: “It is too late when rice has become porridge.”
ASHER LIM
Undergraduate student in economics and politics, University of London