LAP has developed and used information technology systems for water quality monitoring, non-revenue water management and supply digital mapping among others.
Perak Water Board using technology to improve services, efficiency
THE Perak Water Board (LAP) will adapt to aspirations towards the transformation of digital technology in water services and management, as decreed by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
His Royal Highness had, in his royal address when opening the state legislative assembly sitting in May 2020, said the government delivery system could be sped up by adopting the usage of information communications and digital technologies.
This, Sultan Nazrin said, could also improve productivity and revenue, as the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) and digital economy are new phenomenons that all countries are facing.
LAP general manager Lokman Abd Rahim said that in mind, they were introducing and adapting to the latest technology in their daily affairs.
“IR4.0 is a policy that is supported by all and Malaysia is no exception in realising this modernisation policy.
“In a nutshell, IR4.0 is the continuous automation in the traditional manufacturing and industrial sector, using modern smart technology to reduce the dependence on manual labour to increase the effectiveness and quality of the output produced.
“Since 2018, the direction for digital transformation at LAP is part of a comprehensive development plan that focuses on the use of smart technology to improve service quality and efficiency of our daily operations,” he added.
Lokman said under the development plan, LAP had developed and used several information technology systems.
These, he said, included systems for maintenance, certification, water quality monitoring, non-revenue water management, water supply asset management, supply digital mapping, supply application, complaints, bill payment, job application, telemetry monitoring, treatment plant management, perimeter control and smart meter usage testing.
“With the advancement of Internet of Things (IoT), some of the systems that have been developed are able to communicate and share data on a machine-to-machine (M2M) basis.
“These can then be shared and updated in the Geographical Information System (GIS) digital mapping system,” he said.
“The entire data generated through this comprehensive and centralised data collection method is expected to be able to help us in terms of data regulatory requirements.
“These cover information on supply coverage, supply disruption, treated water quality, water pressure, production, water loss control, user complaints, water bill collection effectiveness, supply structure planning and designing, asset management and monitoring and certification of applications,” he added.
Lokman hoped that with the technology and systems in place, it could help LAP to make decisions easily, accurately, quickly and effectively.
“This would then increase the level of user satisfaction and also close the utility industry’s digital data sharing gap,” he said.
