THE National Water Services Commission (SPAN) wants the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to undertake a pilot project with Indah Work Consortium Bhd (IWK) to reclaim and reuse wastewater for industrial, construction and agriculture.
SPAN chairman Charles Santiago said there is no choice but to use alternative water sources given the bleak prospects the water supply concessionaires faced in the country due to challenges from climate change.
With water resources becoming scarce due to prolonged droughts, heatwaves and surging demand among consumers, particularly in Penang, which ranks number one as the state using the most water daily, Santiago said the use of wastewater now called reclaimed water, is an option.
Two localities in Penang were earmarked for the project in Penang.
PBAPP will work with IWK to provide 50 million litres daily (MLD) to willing customers in Bayan Baru, particularly near the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone.
And in Jelutong another 150 MLD will be made available for those in the industries, construction and farming sectors, Santiago said.
The costs will be comparable to the conventional treatment now for tap water if the plant to reclaim water is located in strategic places.
"We can negotiate on the rates for this venture as it is a pilot project. But we believe that this is something we must pursue in the future. There is also rainwater harvesting, which we are encouraging private house owners to undertake."
In India, 50% of wastewater is now allotted for its industrial sector, he said.
Currently, in Selangor, one factory is drawing reclaimed water from Air Selangor and in the period wants this initiative expanded nationwide but first, the consumers, industrialists and commercial operators must understand the benefits and demand.
Santiago said that Selangor can now provide 200 MLD to consumers who want to tap the potential of using reclaimed water.
He said that waste water which is reclaimed, would be treated to meet the requirements in the industrial, construction and farming sectors but it has not reached a point where it can be classified as drinking water.
Although some countries such as Singapore have done it, Santiago said that Malaysian consumers are not yet sold on consuming reclaimed water.
Santiago also said that there is a move to ask PBAPP to secure ponds along riverfronts to secure water storage.
There is also a campaign to encourage all factories to install water-saving devices and to construct their own water recycling plants if their production base is big.
Water should be seen as a national security, as there are cases of investors withdrawing their interests after encountering water supply issues, said Santiago.
Hence, SPAN wants all authorities and consumers to heed the need to conserve and reuse water in as many situations as possible.
SPAN will also be instructing all government building operators to conduct an audit check on water use by ensuring that there is limited wastage and leaks are repaired while those who waste water, are reprimanded.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow took to social media to reveal that almost the entire mainland now has access to normal supply after PBAPP completed its repairs and restored supply ahead of schedule.
Only Nibong Tebal (southern Seberang Prai) has pockets with no supply but Bukit Mertajam (central) and Butterworth (northern) districts have full supply.
PBAPP in its latest release at 7am revealed that all major repairs have been completed including the troublesome riverbed pipeline beneath Sg Perai in Butterworth.
A clamp was successfully installed on the two leaking areas overnight.
The two valves at the Sg Muda Water Treatment Plant were done together with the ancillary works in 22 other locations.
Only pockets on the island and residences and businesses at the end of the line piping system in Balik Pulau, do not have water yet.
Hawkers have also begun operating although some of them had lamented that they had wasted money to purchase huge water containers, which they didn't use, as water was restored faster than anticipated. - The Vibes, January 12, 2024.
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