GEORGE TOWN – Consideration for a desalination plant in Penang has garnered positive feedback from the manufacturing and housing sectors as a viable way to provide uninterrupted water supply.
For Penang Real Estate and Housing Developers Association chairman Tan Hun Beng, the setting up of a desalination plant is inevitable, as the state has exhausted other water supply possibilities.
“There are many ways of getting treated water, and the desalination process of seawater seems to be the best option.
Water rationing should also be the last option. We should not even be in that predicament if all measures are well adopted.”
He also suggested an authority be established to monitor and to punish those who waste water.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Semiconductor Industry Association president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai said investors will be impressed that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is planning ahead with the desalination proposal.
“As Penang continues to attract more industries, water usage will definitely go up.
The state, however, does not have that kind of water supply to cater to front-end assembly plants like in Kulim.
“So, in order to draw these high-value investments, we need to enhance our ecosystem.”
He also called for a contingency plan to address droughts and water supply interruptions.
Possible hike in water tariffs: a downside to desalination plant?
Recently, there has been talk over PBAPP’s ability to continue to supply water at an efficient rate, as climate change is affecting the state’s catchment areas.
Politically, Penang is also at a disadvantage to work with neighbours Kedah and Perak to extract and share water resources.
However, with a desalination plant, Lawyers for Justice movement coordinator S. Raveentharan has voiced concerns over the possibility of higher water tariffs.
In view of higher operating costs to supply water, consumers may need to pay more, he said, while wondering if conservation is well adhered to by consumers here.
Based on a study, Penang’s water demand may increase by 78.1% – 672 million litres per day (MLD) – and reach 1,532 MLD by 2030.
Desalination could reduce Penang’s water dependency on other states
Earlier, state newsletter Buletin Mutiara quoted water resources expert Prof Chan Ngai Weng as saying that desalination will make Penang less dependent on others for supply.
“PBAPP’s proposal is to ensure Penang has sufficient water. Without enough water, everything stops – life, economy, industry, tourism, food. PBAPP has no choice but to resort to desalination.
“Even with all the planned enhancement of five projects under the Raw Water Contingency Plan 2030, the total is only 569 MLD, which is 291 MLD short of last year’s total water demand of 860 MLD in the state.
“I support the move to have an independent water supply. Singapore’s desalination technology is also world class, and it can be a model for Penang.”
Chan said to prepare for droughts, PBAPP also needs to increase water tariffs to discourage overuse of water, while consumers need to install rainfall harvesting systems as an alternative water source.
The state draws more than 80% of its water from its side of Sg Muda.
However, as its relationship soured with neighbouring Kedah, Penang turned to Perak for the purchase of raw water.
That, too, has fallen by the wayside, as Perak now says that it needs water for its growing population that is expected to reach three million by 2050.
In response, PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said the commissioning of desalination plants in Penang might need to be implemented in phases from 2030 onwards. – The Vibes, March 10, 2022
