Eleven major issues must be addressed to ensure sustainability of our water resources for now and in the future. They are estimated at 580 km3/year (average 1977-2001), equivalent to more than 3,000 cubic meters per capita and year. MySEEA PSUT WATER ACCOUNT, 2015. The scheme helps youth who do not have any working experience get jobs. The 2019 Kim Kim River toxic pollution is a water pollution incident that occurred on 7 March 2019 caused by illegal chemical waste dumping at the Kim Kim River in Pasir Gudang of Johor in Malaysia.The illegal dumping released toxic fumes, affecting 6,000 people and hospitalising 2,775. The Orang Asli community at Kuala Kubu Bharu had to sacrifice their traditional ancestral homes in 1999 for the Sungai Selangor Dam because it was considered necessary to meet the water demands of the Klang Valley. It follows that if we could save this 40% of our water supply, recycle river water and have an effective water conservation programme, we would not need any more dams. There is not a global water shortage as such, but individual countries and regions need to urgently tackle the critical problems presented by water stress. Malaysia has departments like the Department of Environments to take charge of the water quality problem. Water Use in Malaysia Total, by Sector, and by Year. The water shortage issue in Malaysia is the concern of people in the whole nation. If ⦠The justification for building the Sungai Selangor dam in 1999 was the alarmist call that prevailing water sources would run out by 2007. The current water stoppage in the Klang Valley is said to be caused by diesel pollution of the water sources that lead to the treatment centres. Published 23 Mar 2019, 2:28 pm Malaysia is expected to experience the extreme hot weather and dry season until May, said Water, Land and ⦠Populist politicians should bear in mind an old African saying: “Those who expect praise for the rain should also bear responsibility for the drought.”. Apart from Terengganu, the other five states are expecting rainfall of 25 per cent below the annual average through April and May. We have been warned that future wars will be fought over this increasingly scarce resource – water. When water tariffs are too low (never mind free), consumers have no incentive to conserve water. Recently, water crisis in several states are crucial especially in Selangor. However, if different measures are not taken then it is feared that Malaysia will face a possible repeat of the same water shortage when El Niño returns. As long as the state governments fail to consider the capacity of the river basin, there is no guarantee that adding new dams can solve water shortages, he is quoted as saying. They are: Over-emphasis on water supply management The water management system in Malaysia employs and depends heavily on the water supply management approach to cater to demand. Freshwater scarcity is increasingly perceived as a global systemic risk. During the campaign by SOS (Save Our Sungai) Selangor against the dam in 1999, we stressed the urgent need for water demand management, which includes targets set for per capita water use, and reductions in non-revenue water. Published: 11:42pm, 14 Mar, 2019. The warning was issued by the National Water Resources Office, citing low levels in reservoirs, which are the main sources for tap water production waterworks in 22 provinces. DASH and SUKE will offer alternative routes that will ease road congestion. It looks like the email address you entered is not valid. Mark my words, before long we will again be told that we need yet another dam to meet the water shortage! Water resources in Malaysia are abundant and available throughout the year. In 2014, after the Selangor government announced its free water policy, I wrote: “Free water is populism gone mad!”. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp's partners. Mediacorp Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. ABS-CBN News Manila Water has also denied that they have a leakage problem since their non-revenue water or water loss percentage has been around 11 percent since 2010. What we have witnessed in recent years is the wanton destruction of precious water catchments such as Bukit Sungai Putih Forest Reserve, to name just one example of official irresponsibility. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT. ... More than 6 million people have been affected by a water shortage in large areas of the . Copyright© Mediacorp 2020. Why you can trust SCMP. But, there is only one cause: the low treated water reserve margin. KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 â Malaysia is expected to experience the extreme hot weather and dry season until May, said Water, Land and Natural Resource Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar. Since then, taxpayers have had to bear the cost of the dam through indirect taxation. We have many times more water than most African countries and yet we are facing a water shortage crisis. In Malaysia, water supply disruptions are either scheduled (usually for maintenance and upgrading of water supply facilities) or unscheduled. People living in 22 Thai provinces are being warned to prepare for shortages of drinking water during the upcoming dry season, due to start on November 1. The fire, which started on Wednesday, was extinguished by firefighters on Saturday, a Terengganu fire department spokesman told Bernama. Giving away free water makes a mockery of water demand management, which would also involve making sure those who wash their cars everyday pay more for the luxury. There is a possibility that the amount of rainfall will drop at the beginning of this year, causing water shortages. In 2010, a study by the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer) revealed that the country’s water industry lost nearly half of its total revenue of RM4 billion, or RM1.7 billion, to non-revenue water (NRW). "Water provision ... including for daily living, industries and farming, especially for rice farmers, need to be managed through rationing or rescheduling of rice planting," said Dr Xavier. I saw news from 2019 year 2 month 18. A newly launched mobile application by Royal Canin offers pets owners a chance at redeeming valuable prizes while educating them on pet care. He added that three dams - one in Kedah and two in Johor - currently have water storage capacities of about 50 per cent. In the light of an impending water crisis, why has an emergency plan for cleaning our rivers and recycling river water not been announced and publicised? He says it is easy to work out the amount of water that can be extracted sustainably from each basin. We need to recognize that Malaysia has its own wet and dry season. Currently, the Malaysian government is employing varying methods to manage the water crisis that the nation is facing including water rationing, Malaysian Digest reports. Copyright © 2020 FMT Media Sdn Bhd. Unless this is done, we will continue to experience the consequences of a wasteful attitude to water usage, the needless building of dams and, now, a geologically questionable proposal to utilise groundwater just announced by the minister. Manila Water had a shortage of 140 million liters daily. If we can build the world’s tallest twin towers, there is no reason why we cannot have the resources to clean up and recycle our river water like they are doing in so many countries. Despite the many signs that the water crisis is beginning to have a negative impact, much of the region has not even begun to take steps to increase their water security. The hot and dry weather also caused fire in 297 hectares of peat swamps in Setiu, Terrengganu. Malaysians are among the worst water wasters in the world, with a national average water consumption of 200 litres/capita/day when 20 to 30 litres of water per person per day is considered adequate for basic human needs. Malaysia expecting water shortage in six states, including Johor: Minister The Sembrong Dam in Johor Baru, Malaysia, that was found to be at 54.07 ⦠Malaysiaâs water industry is in âdire straitsâ, so says the water, land and natural resources minister. Thus, without the need to construct any new dams, conservation measures alone have resulted in savings in water and energy consumption and, at the same time, produced impressive growth figures. As the minister and his department must know, the water crisis is by no means a new phenomenon. PUTRAJAYA: Water shortage is expected in six Malaysian states due to the extreme hot weather, said Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar on ⦠Urban Malaysians are worse – they use more than 500 litres/capita/day. Tell it to the Orang Asli at Kuala Kubu Bharu. AirAsia X to reduce share capital by 99.9%, plans to raise... EU chief says there is ‘movement’ in last-mile Brexit talks. We have yet to see a serious water conservation campaign, one which not only encourages household and industrial consumers to conserve but also provides imaginative fiscal incentives to conserve and utilise water efficiently without affecting productivity. Whenever La Mesa Damâs level drops to 69 meters or lower as it did this month, water no longer flows to Manila Waterâs treatment plant. The same can be said for the lack of a serious energy conservation campaign. Release Date : Wednesday 17, June 2020 1200 Report On The Survey Of Environmental Protection Expenditure 2019. Shouldn’t the police and enforcement agencies and local authorities be hauled up to account by MACC? It is an indication of the lack of an overall assessment of the forests, rivers and land resources in the state to determine sustainability. KUALA LUMPUR â Malaysia has recorded its second death from heatstroke, as the government warned people to brace themselves for less rain and more haze âin the coming monthsâ. This has been happening for decades now. If other countries can rely on recycling river water for their water supply without resorting to building dams, is there any reason why it cannot be done in this country? He added that other areas in Kedah, Pahang and Terengganu are under the "dangerous" category as their cumulative rainfall has fallen below the hot and dry season records. "JPS (Department of Irrigation and Drainage) advises state authorities to take action by prudently releasing water from the dams involved.". The evidence and statistics on the water consumption rate of Malaysians speak for themselves. According to Penang's water supplier, the main reservoir is ... particularly during the 2014 water crisis in Selangor. 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In 2010, a study by the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer) revealed that the countryâs water industry lost nearly half of its total revenue of RM4bn, or RM1.7bn, to non-revenue water (NRW). "This situation will cause hot and dry weather, and decrease water sources from rivers and dams in those states," said Dr Xavier. The Selangor government carried out its free water policy at a time when Selangor and other parts of the country were already experiencing critical water shortage. What the minister and all Malaysians must address is: What is the root cause of this critically important problem? KULAI - Despite heavy downpours of late, the water crisis in Johor has worsened, with at least 275,000 people having to face scheduled water rationing.Parts of ⦠Malaysia’s water industry is in “dire straits”, so says the water, land and natural resources minister. Since 98 percent of the water originates from rivers, river pollution is a serious concern. We use 5 to 7 times more water than them, and we still face water shortages! The government has admitted that as much as 40% of piped water is lost through leakage and faulty meters. Notes: Years with missing data left empty. Ahmed et al. Water use can include water used and then returned to its source (renewable resource). Tue 20 Aug 2019 16.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 15 Oct 2020 09.20 EDT. Yes, that was in 1999 although illegal factories had been operating in these “people sensitive” zones for years. Malaysia expecting water shortage in six states, including Johor: Minister March 23, 2019 PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) â Malaysians in six states must brace for water rationing due to the extreme hot weather, says Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar. The Department of Environments is responsible for tracking the water quality in Malaysia using Water Quality Index and National Water Quality Standards. Alas, water demand management has been sacrificed for populist handouts. Mark my words, before long we will again be told that we need yet another dam to meet the water shortage. “However, it is difficult to meet this requirement as demand is outstripping supply.”. The minister added that despite that looming threat, Malaysia’s water industry is not yet equipped to effectively address the water shortage. Even Drainage and Irrigation Department director-general Kheizul Abdullah concedes that no attempt has been made by the respective state governments to establish the capacity to supply water of each of the 150 river basins in the country. Selangor lost one of its most pristine white-water rafting sites that was acclaimed as world class. Water supply to rice farms from Sungai Muda, Sungai Kedah and Sungai Melaka are expected to fall short during peak farming usage in March and April, in which case more water will need to be released from existing dams, he added. Water has to be treated as a scarce resource, with a far stronger focus on managing demand. Water Stress Levels of Urban Areas with Population Bigger than 3 Million More than a third of major urban areas with more than 3 million people are under high or extremely high water stress. PUTRAJAYA: Water shortage is expected in six Malaysian states due to the extreme hot weather, said Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar on Saturday (Mar 23) as he warned that water rationing is needed. 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This approach is unsustainable in the long run as water demand will eventually overtake water supply. Awer said Selangor recorded the highest volume of NRW, losing nearly RM600 million in just one year. The country is expected to see its water resources reduced by 20% to 25% between 2025 and 2030. Some areas have had no rain for weeks, including Setiu in Terengganu (31 days) and Hulu Perak (56 days), according to Dr Xavier. KUALA LUMPUR: A climate change expert has warned Malaysians to brace for even heavier rain as well as more severe storms and floods. Despite Malaysia being a country with high rainfall intensity, a growing area of concern is freshwater scarcity. All Rights Reserved. The facts from the developed countries reveal that water and energy conservation campaigns in these countries have resulted in phenomenal savings in water and energy consumption. Besides a reasonable tariff to discourage wastage of water, a comprehensive water demand management policy would include changes to building by-laws, through subsidising the installation of water-saving devices in business and residential properties and through giving industry incentives to switch to water-efficient technologies, besides incentives to household consumers to conserve water. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNDP), water shortage is one of the two major environmental issues facing the world today. The water level at La Mesa Dam in Quezon City reached near critical level at 69.35 meters above sea level (masl) compared to 80.15 masl Normal High Water level, on March 7, 2019. When Suaram was opposing the Sungai Selangor Dam with some other NGO activists who now sit in the Selangor government, we warned about the need for water demand management. This article tells me that Penang Island, where I live, can have a serious water shortage. The world's second-most populous country is running out of water. There were even question as to why Malaysia is having water shortage problem when in reality, Malaysia is blessed with more than one source of water. If we are serious about attracting tourists and breaking out of the mould of a filthy developing country, it is time to clean up our rivers and drains. However, as a developing nation, Malaysia is not an exception when it comes to water shortage problem. meREWARDS lets you get coupon deals, and earn cashback when you complete surveys, dine, travel and shop with our partners. Environmental protection expenditure recorded an annual growth rate of 4.0 per cent to RM2.7 billion. It is clear that poor analysis of the root cause in the past has led to serious environmental and socio-economic consequences. Malaysia is blessed with abundant rain water, yet we are the worst squanderers of this natural resource. The six states are Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Kedah, Pahang and Kelantan. In my 2014 article, I warned that free water is not like any other populist handout – there are dire consequences. The programme provides youth with opportunities for training and working. Updated: 9:03am, 15 Mar, 2019. NRW is water that has been treated but lost through leaks, thefts or faults in metering before reaching the customer. The current water shortage and looming water crisis brought about by population growth, deforestation of important watershed hills and erratic rain patterns should wake Malaysians up to the urgent need for water demand management. Most of the victims were school studentsâ110 schools located near the river were subsequently closed. The Bukit Kwong Dam in Kelantan, meanwhile, has a water storage capacity of about 37 per cent. READ: Malaysians, farmers endure heatwave in Kedah, READ: Temperatures set to hit 40 degrees Celsius in Kedah as heatwave grips Malaysia, READ: Feeling the heat: Johor businesses, residents activate contingency plans amid dry spell. THERE are many theories about the Selangor water crisis. Malaysia registered total water abstraction of 14,791 millions of cubic metres. Even if some Malaysians don’t care about the plight of the Orang Asli or the displacement of other indigenous peoples for dam projects, their own discomfort during any water shortages should be enough to warn them of the even worse catastrophe in the looming water crises to come. Royal Canin Club mobile app offers pet owners rewards and more! Higher education will always play an important role in fostering economic and personal growth, not just for today but also for the future. 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