Charles Santiago, National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman, says transformation requires looking at alternative sources of water such as reclaimed water, rainwater harvesting, NRW reduction and having zero-discharge policies.
MALAYSIA’S water management system must undergo a major transformation through new approaches and the development of alternative water sources. Zero-waste strategies and a circular economy should underpin this transformation.
According to a World Meteorological Organisation report, Asia is heating up faster than the global average. Malaysia is projected to experience 200 heatwave days a year by 2050, with more extreme floods and thunderstorms.
Adapting to the new environment requires fundamental changes to how we plan and organise, supply and source for new “taps” to mitigate this crisis.
Transformation requires looking at alternative sources of water such as reclaimed water, rainwater harvesting, non-revenue water (NRW) reduction and having zero-discharge policies.
NRW has been one of the biggest and consistent challenges. About one-third of our treated water is wasted due to leakages, pilfering and other factors. NRW losses amounted to RM8.05bil from 2018 to 2022. NRW reduction will lead to the construction of fewer water treatment plants, resulting in huge savings.
Low water tariffs hinder the industry’s progress, so my repeated proposal of allocating at least RM10bil a year for the next three years to boost water infrastructure is crucial.
Rainwater harvesting
Malaysia is blessed with abundant rainfall. One clear benefit of rain- water harvesting is less dependence on treated water. It reduces costs and can be used for non-core activities such as irrigation, cooling systems and toilet flushing. Rainwater harvesting is particularly viable for industrial users due to larger rooftop catchment areas.
In industries, rainwater harvesting should be mandatory for non-potable water usage. Using it as boiler feed would be another step forward.
Water reclamation aims to repurpose water in the industrial sector to ensure that it is used efficiently and to help reduce the demand for treated water. Hopefully, this will lead to savings in treated water, ensuring water supply security to mitigate climate emergencies.
Many countries and US states use this method, including Singapore, California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and the Persian Gulf countries. In California, data centres use reclaimed water for cooling.
Zero discharge policy
The water services industry needs to champion zero-waste concepts. The output or discharge from the water and sewerage operators, both the effluent and the sludge should be recycled, redirected, or repurposed in every possible way.
Few water treatment plants employ the concept of zero discharge in terms of effluents and this must be made mandatory.
The zero discharge policy encourages premises to recycle and reuse effluent instead of discharging it into water sources. In addition, the state agency can generate revenue through payment imposed on companies that discharge into waterways, and this money can then be used to protect rivers and waterways.
The zero discharge policy should be implemented in all states based on the pioneering efforts of Selangor.
The importance of water should also be given more attention in ESG practices. Every business and indivi- dual has a water footprint, just as they do with their carbon footprint. It takes 6,500 litres of water to make one pair of jeans, and 140 litres of water to grow, process and transport enough coffee beans for an average cup.
Water footprinting in our own operations isn’t enough. The water footprint of the supply chain must also be monitored.
As SPAN embarks on ESG, specifically GHG management, with the aspiration to support and accelerate carbon neutrality and net zero emissions in Malaysia by 2050, the water footprint must also be considered, especially since the company aims to proactively promote ESG principles in the industry as well.
Through ESG, the water services industry must enhance social and governance. The water and sewerage operators agreed to account for and report on the extra revenue gained due to tariff adjustments during the tariff review in 2023. As part of greater industry governance, these reports are expected to be made public on their websites.
Efforts have been made to minimise corruption within the industry. In addition to the corruption-free pledge, we encourage water service operators to invest at least 1% of their operating costs in ongoing training and capacity building.
Emerging issues
There are newer concerns. Our drinking water is polluted by microplastics and PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. This needs to be addressed through regulation.
We understand the difficulty of regulating such a complex pollutant, but we should at least begin to contextualise its impact on drinking water, food and the environment, as well as study the potential impact on water industry infrastructure, materials and processes of PFAS restrictions and/or bans.
Water plays a central role in the water-energy-food nexus, especially in the midst of a climate emergency. Energy powers the world; water keeps it alive.
At the moment, water doesn’t receive the priority it deserves compared to energy, and this needs to change. In addition, the water-energy nexus needs to be reviewed in the National Energy Transition Roadmap.
We must act now. Water is a source of life and a treasure shared by all of humanity. If we don’t take care of the water cycle, our life cycle won’t care for us.
In the future, we can achieve a water-secure environment with the proposed new taps, digitalisation and HR upscaling.
Let us be the architects of change and create a historical legacy that protects future generations’ interests.
This article first appeared in Star Biz7 weekly edition.
