Freshwater is perhaps the most crucial resource for humans and all other living

creatures on earth. Our life revolves around water, and sufficient clean water is
essential for our healthy living as well as the health of the environment.

Malaysia receives abundant rainfall averaging 3,000mm annually that contributes to an

estimated annual water resource of some 900 billion cubic metres.

About 97% of our raw water supply for agricultural, domestic and industrial needs are
derived from surface water sources primarily rivers. Malaysia has 189 river basins - 89 in
Peninsular Malaysia, 78 in Sabah and 22 in Sarawak. All the rivers originate and flow
from the highlands.

The highland forests and wetlands (including forested wetlands and water bodies such
as river systems) constitute key freshwater ecosystems in the country that deliver a
multitude of benefits, from providing natural resources, gene pools, and habitats for flora
and fauna, to enabling water purification and flood control.

These freshwater ecosystems are facing numerous threats and challenges. Recognising
this, WWF-Malaysia promotes the conservation, integrated management and
sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems. To achieve this, WWF-Malaysia advocates
for integrated policies and approaches, field projects, improving information database,
and information dissemination to increase awareness. These are encapsulated within
WWF- Malaysia’s Freshwater Programme comprising the following three areas:

1. Conserving river basins – maintenance and restoration of freshwater habitats and

ecological processes within key river basins using approaches such Integrated River
Basin Management (IRBM);
2. Sustainable water use – focuses on sustainable water use policies and practices
that contribute to freshwater habitat conservation using approaches such as
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM); and
3. Conserving freshwater habitats – focuses on improved protection and
management of priority freshwater habitats.
https://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_main/#:~:text=Our%20life
%20revolves%20around%20water,some%20900%20billion%20cubic%20metres.

Malaysia’s low water tariff structure is causing consumers to use water wastefully.
The nation’s potable water supply should not be taken for granted in view of
challenges faced by the water services industry. This is the first of two articles on
this issue.

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – Malaysians tend to take the running water from their
taps for granted.

The demand for clean treated water is growing ever bigger but climate changes are
putting pressure on Malaysia's water resources while its catchment areas are facing
a rising incidence of pollution and development activities.

It is imperative that consumers change their attitude towards water and learn to use
water prudently as experts are saying that Malaysians should brace themselves for
frequent water shortages and higher tariffs in the near future.
Based on statistics from the National Water Services Commission (SPAN),
Malaysians consume an average of 201 litres of water per person per day, which is
equivalent to 134 bottles (1.5-litre capacity each). Malaysia’s average daily per
capita consumption is higher than the 165 litres a day recommended by the World
Health Organisation (WHO).

In comparison, Singaporeans use an average of 151 litres per person a day and
Thais 193 litres per person a day.

To reduce water usage among Malaysians, SPAN has set a target of 181 litres per
person per day which it hopes to attain this year.

TARIFFS TOO LOW?

Not many people may be aware of the challenges faced by water service providers
in treating raw water and channelling potable water to consumers.

The entire process has them tackling challenges they face at the various catchment
areas and rivers that constitute the main sources of raw water supply, as well as at
treatment plants and the water distribution system. 

Herein lies the question whether Malaysia’s relatively low water tariffs are the main
reason why consumers pay no heed to the amount of water they use each day.

Studies have shown that low tariffs are the main reason consumers pay no heed to using water wisely.
--fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The answer is ‘yes’ because states that have lower tariff structures experience
higher usage of water among their consumers.
According to the Malaysian Water Industry Guide 2018, Penang recorded the
highest daily per capita consumption at 277 litres. 

Penang’s water tariff structure, the lowest in the country because it is heavily
subsidised, is as follows (figures are obtained from SPAN’s website): 22 sen per
1,000 litres (one cubic metre) for the first 20 cubic metres; 46 sen to RM1.17 per
cubic metre for the subsequent 20 to 200 cubic metres; and RM1.30 per cubic metre
exceeding 200 cubic metres.

The average water usage per person per day in the other states is as follows: Perlis,
245 litres; Melaka 228; Perak 227; Selangor and Negeri Sembilan 222; Kedah 217,
Terengganu 204; Johor 200;  Pahang 190; Sarawak 165; Labuan 161; Kelantan 141;
and Sabah 108.  

Perlis charges 40 sen per cubic metre for the first 15 cubic metres of water
consumed and RM1.10 per cubic metre for the subsequent 40 cubic metres. Melaka
charges 60 sen per cubic metre for the first 20 cubic metres and RM1.45 for the
subsequent 35 cubic metres and above.

Perak’s rate is 30 sen per cubic metre for the first 10 cubic metres and RM1.03 for
the next 20 cubic metres and above.

In Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, it is 57 sen per cubic metre for the first 20
cubic metres and RM2.00 for the subsequent 35 cubic metres and above.

Negeri Sembilan charges 55 sen for the first 20 cubic metres and RM1.40 for the
next 35 cubic metres and above.

COST OF TREATING WATER

Next comes the cost of treating raw water versus the tariffs paid by consumers.

Children should be taught at a young age not to waste water. --fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED
According to SPAN, the cost of treating 1,000 litres of water is RM2.31 while
domestic users are only charged an average tariff of 52 sen per 1,000 litres of water
they use.

A majority of households use about 20,000 litres of water a month and their monthly
bill comes to about RM10.40 when, in fact, the actual cost is RM46.20.

Singapore, in comparison, requires users to pay a water conservation tax on top of

their monthly water bill.

It charges S$1.21 (RM3.62) per cubic metre for the first 40 cubic metres of water
used, as well as a 50 percent water conservation tax. For water usage exceeding 40
cubic metres, consumers have to pay S$1.52 (RM4.55) per cubic metre plus a 65
percent water conservation tax.

The city-state’s steep rates could be one of the reasons Singaporeans are judicious
in their use of water.

In Malaysia, the government has announced its proposal to increase the water tariff
structure and it has been reported that the revised rates will be presented to the
Cabinet for approval soon. Hopefully, the higher tariffs will compel Malaysians to
change their attitude towards water and learn to value the resource.

WASTEFUL WATER CONSUMPTION

T. Saravanan. --fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Concurring that Malaysia’s low water tariffs are the reason for wasteful water
consumption among consumers, Water and Energy Consumers Association
president T. Saravanan said potable water that is meant for drinking and cooking
purposes is, instead, being used for activities such as washing cars and watering the
garden.

He told Bernama that while the demand for clean treated water is always on the rise,
the nation’s water resources, on the other hand, are diminishing due to challenges
such as the prevailing hot weather in certain states.

“Water shortages may occur more frequently in view of climate changes. Apart from
that, our water security is also increasingly jeopardised by the pollution occurring in
our rivers which are the main sources of raw water for the country,” he said.
He said if the situation remained the same, particularly the issue of pollution and
catchment areas being cleared to make way for development, Malaysian consumers
must be prepared to pay higher tariffs simply because it costs more to treat
contaminated water.

However, he added, after the implementation of higher water tariffs, consumers must
be guaranteed of better services and no more disruptions in water supply.

Dr Zaki Zainudin. --fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Water quality expert Dr Zaki Zainudin, meanwhile, said advanced nations like the
United States and Singapore have legislation that guarantees the safety of the water
distributed to the end-users.

He said although Malaysia has yet to attain advanced nation status, there has to be
a starting point for the nation to improve and upgrade its water supply services.

If the water tariff structure is revised upwards, is there any guarantee of an

improvement in the quality of water services rendered to consumers?

“This is a question that the government has to consider, as well as the question of
whether we are ready to have more stringent and holistic legislation to control
pollution.

“There is a possibility of some parties saying that they are not ready for such
legislation. Would this mean that we will continue to allow pollution to occur?” he
asked, adding that only an advanced, and also costly, treatment system is capable of
treating contaminated water.  

 
Translated by Rema Nambiar

-- BERNAMA

VV

Environmental degradation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Eighty-plus years after the abandonment of Wallaroo Mines (Kadina, South Australia), mosses
remain the only vegetation at some spots of the site's grounds.

Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of

resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the
extinction of wildlife; and pollution. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the
environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable.[1] As indicated by the I=PAT
equation, environmental impact (I) or degradation is caused by the combination of an already
very large and increasing human population (P), continually increasing economic growth or
per capita affluence (A), and the application of resource-depleting and polluting technology
(T).[2][3]

Environmental degradation is one of the ten threats officially cautioned by the High-level
Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change of the United Nations. The United Nations
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines environmental degradation as "the
reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and
needs".[4] Environmental degradation comes in many types. When natural habitats are
destroyed or natural resources are depleted, the environment is degraded. Efforts to
counteract this problem include environmental protection and environmental resources
management.

There are many examples of environmental degradation throughout the world. A recent
example is the 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires. The Amazon makes up 60% of all
rainforests. It is the earth's lungs and with it getting destroyed is posing a huge threat to the
environment and the whole world. The effects of the deforestation will pose major impacts on
the world around us. The constant cutting down of trees is getting rid of our oxygen supply as
well as the absorption of co2. With the continuation of deforestation we will have less
available oxygen in the world which could have detrimental effects on human health. An
alternate issue that results from this is the overconsumption and waste of the paper products
that come from those trees. The waste it typically produces does not get recycled, therefore,
immense amount of waste is created. An additional harmful result from this is the
degradation of the soil. The constant deforestation causes the soil to become less nutrient
which will make it harder to be used again.

Contents
 1 Biodiversity loss

 2 Water degradation

o 2.1 Climate change and temperature

o 2.2 Climate change and precipitation

o 2.3 Population growth

o 2.4 Agriculture

o 2.5 Water management

 3 See also

 4 Sources

 5 References

 6 External links

Biodiversity loss[edit]
See also: Biodiversity loss, Defaunation, and Holocene extinction
Deforestation in the Maranhão state, Brazil, 2016

Scientists assert that human activity has pushed the earth into a sixth mass extinction event.[5]
[6]
The loss of biodiversity has been attributed in particular to human overpopulation,
continued human population growth and overconsumption of natural resources by the world's
wealthy.[7][8] A 2018 report by the World Wildlife Fund found that overconsumption of
resources by the global population has destroyed 60% of vertebrate wildlife since 1970.[9][10]
The Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, published by the
United Nation's IPBES in 2019, posits that roughly one million species of plants and animals
face extinction from anthropogenic causes, such as expanding human land use for industrial
agriculture and livestock rearing, along with overfishing.[11][12][13]

The implications of these losses for human livelihoods and wellbeing have raised serious
concerns. With regard to the agriculture sector for example, The State of the World’s
Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations in 2019[14], states that “countries report that many species that
contribute to vital ecosystem services, including pollinators, the natural enemies of pests, soil
organisms and wild food species, are in decline as a consequence of the destruction and
degradation of habitats, overexploitation, pollution and other threats” and that “key
ecosystems that deliver numerous services essential to food and agriculture, including supply
of freshwater, protection against hazards and provision of habitat for species such as fish and
pollinators, are declining.”[15]

Water degradation[edit]

Ethiopia's move to fill the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam's reservoir could reduce Nile flows by as
much as 25% and devastate Egyptian farmlands. [16]

One major component of environmental degradation is the depletion of the resource of fresh
water on Earth.[17] Approximately only 2.5% of all of the water on Earth is fresh water, with
the rest being salt water. 69% of fresh water is frozen in ice caps located on Antarctica and
Greenland, so only 30% of the 2.5% of fresh water is available for consumption.[18] Fresh
water is an exceptionally important resource, since life on Earth is ultimately dependent on it.
Water transports nutrients, minerals and chemicals within the biosphere to all forms of life,
sustains both plants and animals, and moulds the surface of the Earth with transportation and
deposition of materials.[19]

The current top three uses of fresh water account for 95% of its consumption; approximately
85% is used for irrigation of farmland, golf courses, and parks, 6% is used for domestic
purposes such as indoor bathing uses and outdoor garden and lawn use, and 4% is used for
industrial purposes such as processing, washing, and cooling in manufacturing centres.[20] It is
estimated that one in three people over the entire globe are already facing water shortages,
almost one-fifth of the world population live in areas of physical water scarcity, and almost
one quarter of the world's population live in a developing country that lacks the necessary
infrastructure to use water from available rivers and aquifers. Water scarcity is an increasing
problem due to many foreseen issues in the future including population growth, increased
urbanization, higher standards of living, and climate change.[18]

Climate change and temperature[edit]

Climate change affects the Earth's water supply in a large number of ways. It is predicted that
the mean global temperature will rise in the coming years due to a number of forces affecting
the climate. The amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) will rise, and both of these will
influence water resources; evaporation depends strongly on temperature and moisture
availability which can ultimately affect the amount of water available to replenish
groundwater supplies.

Transpiration from plants can be affected by a rise in atmospheric CO2, which can decrease
their use of water, but can also raise their use of water from possible increases of leaf area.
Temperature rise can reduce the snow season in the winter and increase the intensity of the
melting snow leading to peak runoff of this, affecting soil moisture, flood and drought risks,
and storage capacities depending on the area.[21]

Warmer winter temperatures cause a decrease in snowpack, which can result in diminished
water resources during summer. This is especially important at mid-latitudes and in mountain
regions that depend on glacial runoff to replenish their river systems and groundwater
supplies, making these areas increasingly vulnerable to water shortages over time; an increase
in temperature will initially result in a rapid rise in water melting from glaciers in the
summer, followed by a retreat in glaciers and a decrease in the melt and consequently the
water supply every year as the size of these glaciers get smaller and smaller.[18]

Thermal expansion of water and increased melting of oceanic glaciers from an increase in
temperature gives way to a rise in sea level. This can affect the fresh water supply to coastal
areas as well. As river mouths and deltas with higher salinity get pushed further inland, an
intrusion of saltwater results in an increase of salinity in reservoirs and aquifers.[20] Sea-level
rise may also consequently be caused by a depletion of groundwater,[22] as climate change can
affect the hydrologic cycle in a number of ways. Uneven distributions of increased
temperatures and increased precipitation around the globe results in water surpluses and
deficits,[21] but a global decrease in groundwater suggests a rise in sea level, even after
meltwater and thermal expansion were accounted for,[22] which can provide a positive
feedback to the problems sea-level rise causes to fresh-water supply.

A rise in air temperature results in a rise in water temperature, which is also very significant
in water degradation as the water would become more susceptible to bacterial growth. An
increase in water temperature can also affect ecosystems greatly because of a species'
sensitivity to temperature, and also by inducing changes in a body of water's self-purification
system from decreased amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water due to rises in temperature.
[18]
Climate change and precipitation[edit]

A rise in global temperatures is also predicted to correlate with an increase in global

precipitation but because of increased runoff, floods, increased rates of soil erosion, and mass
movement of land, a decline in water quality is probable, because while water will carry more
nutrients it will also carry more contaminants.[18] While most of the attention about climate
change is directed towards global warming and greenhouse effect, some of the most severe
effects of climate change are likely to be from changes in precipitation, evapotranspiration,
runoff, and soil moisture. It is generally expected that, on average, global precipitation will
increase, with some areas receiving increases and some decreases.

Climate models show that while some regions should expect an increase in precipitation,[21]
such as in the tropics and higher latitudes, other areas are expected to see a decrease, such as
in the subtropics. This will ultimately cause a latitudinal variation in water distribution.[18]
The areas receiving more precipitation are also expected to receive this increase during their
winter and actually become drier during their summer,[21] creating even more of a variation of
precipitation distribution. Naturally, the distribution of precipitation across the planet is very
uneven, causing constant variations in water availability in respective locations.

Changes in precipitation affect the timing and magnitude of floods and droughts, shift runoff
processes, and alter groundwater recharge rates. Vegetation patterns and growth rates will be
directly affected by shifts in precipitation amount and distribution, which will in turn affect
agriculture as well as natural ecosystems. Decreased precipitation will deprive areas of water
causing water tables to fall and reservoirs of wetlands, rivers, and lakes to empty.[21] In
addition, a possible increase in evaporation and evapotranspiration will result, depending on
the accompanied rise in temperature.[20] Groundwater reserves will be depleted, and the
remaining water has a greater chance of being of poor quality from saline or contaminants on
the land surface.[18]

Population growth[edit]

Graph of human population from 10000 BCE to 2000 CE. It shows exponential rise in world
population that has taken place since the end of the seventeenth century.

Main articles: Human overpopulation and Population growth

The human population on Earth is expanding exponentially which goes hand in hand with the
degradation of the environment at large measures. Humanity's appetite for needs is
disarranging the environment's natural equilibrium. Production industries are venting smoke
and discharging chemicals that are polluting water resources. The smoke that is emitted into
the atmosphere holds detrimental gases such as carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. The
high levels of pollution in the atmosphere form layers that are eventually absorbed into the
atmosphere. Organic compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) have generated an
unwanted opening in the ozone layer, which emits higher levels of ultraviolet radiation
putting the globe at large threat.

The available fresh water being affected by the climate is also being stretched across an ever-
increasing global population. It is estimated that almost a quarter of the global population is
living in an area that is using more than 20% of their renewable water supply; water use will
rise with population while the water supply is also being aggravated by decreases in
streamflow and groundwater caused by climate change. Even though some areas may see an
increase in freshwater supply from an uneven distribution of precipitation increase, an
increased use of water supply is expected.[23]

An increased population means increased withdrawals from the water supply for domestic,
agricultural, and industrial uses, the largest of these being agriculture,[24] believed to be the
major non-climate driver of environmental change and water deterioration. The next 50 years
will likely be the last period of rapid agricultural expansion, but the larger and wealthier
population over this time will demand more agriculture.[25]

Population increase over the last two decades, at least in the United States, has also been
accompanied by a shift to an increase in urban areas from rural areas,[26] which concentrates
the demand for water into certain areas, and puts stress on the fresh water supply from
industrial and human contaminants.[18] Urbanization causes overcrowding and increasingly
unsanitary living conditions, especially in developing countries, which in turn exposes an
increasingly number of people to disease. About 79% of the world's population is in
developing countries, which lack access to sanitary water and sewer systems, giving rises to
disease and deaths from contaminated water and increased numbers of disease-carrying
insects.[27]

Agriculture[edit]
Water pollution due to dairy farming in the Wairarapa in New Zealand

Agriculture is dependent on available soil moisture, which is directly affected by climate

dynamics, with precipitation being the input in this system and various processes being the
output, such as evapotranspiration, surface runoff, drainage, and percolation into
groundwater. Changes in climate, especially the changes in precipitation and
evapotranspiration predicted by climate models, will directly affect soil moisture, surface
runoff, and groundwater recharge.

In areas with decreasing precipitation as predicted by the climate models, soil moisture may
be substantially reduced.[21] With this in mind, agriculture in most areas already needs
irrigation, which depletes fresh water supplies both by the physical use of the water and the
degradation agriculture causes to the water. Irrigation increases salt and nutrient content in
areas that would not normally be affected, and damages streams and rivers from damming
and removal of water. Fertilizer enters both human and livestock waste streams that
eventually enter groundwater, while nitrogen, phosphorus, and other chemicals from fertilizer
can acidify both soils and water. Certain agricultural demands may increase more than others
with an increasingly wealthier global population, and meat is one commodity expected to
double global food demand by 2050,[25] which directly affects the global supply of fresh
water. Cows need water to drink, more if the temperature is high and humidity is low, and
more if the production system the cow is in is extensive, since finding food takes more effort.
Water is needed in processing of the meat, and also in the production of feed for the
livestock. Manure can contaminate bodies of freshwater, and slaughterhouses, depending on
how well they are managed, contribute waste such as blood, fat, hair, and other bodily
contents to supplies of fresh water.[28]

The transfer of water from agricultural to urban and suburban use raises concerns about
agricultural sustainability, rural socioeconomic decline, food security, an increased carbon
footprint from imported food, and decreased foreign trade balance.[24] The depletion of fresh
water, as applied to more specific and populated areas, increases fresh water scarcity among
the population and also makes populations susceptible to economic, social, and political
conflict in a number of ways; rising sea levels forces migration from coastal areas to other
areas farther inland, pushing populations closer together breaching borders and other
geographical patterns, and agricultural surpluses and deficits from the availability of water
induce trade problems and economies of certain areas.[23] Climate change is an important
cause of involuntary migration and forced displacement[29] According to the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, global greenhouse gas emissions from
animal agriculture exceeds that of transportation.[30]

Water management[edit]
A stream in the town of Amlwch, Anglesey which is contaminated by acid mine drainage from the
former copper mine at nearby Parys Mountain

The issue of the depletion of fresh water can be met by increased efforts in water
management.[19] While water management systems are often flexible, adaptation to new
hydrologic conditions may be very costly.[21] Preventative approaches are necessary to avoid
high costs of inefficiency and the need for rehabilitation of water supplies,[19] and innovations
to decrease overall demand may be important in planning water sustainability.[24]

Water supply systems, as they exist now, were based on the assumptions of the current
climate, and built to accommodate existing river flows and flood frequencies. Reservoirs are
operated based on past hydrologic records, and irrigation systems on historical temperature,
water availability, and crop water requirements; these may not be a reliable guide to the
future. Re-examining engineering designs, operations, optimizations, and planning, as well as
re-evaluating legal, technical, and economic approaches to manage water resources are very
important for the future of water management in response to water degradation. Another
approach is water privatization; despite its economic and cultural effects, service quality and
overall quality of the water can be more easily controlled and distributed. Rationality and
sustainability is appropriate, and requires limits to overexploitation and pollution and efforts
in conservation.[19]

See also[edit]
 Wetlands portal

 Anthropocene
 Environmental issues
 Ecological collapse
 Ecologically sustainable development
 Eco-socialism
 Exploitation of natural resources
 Restoration ecology
 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
 World Resources Institute (WRI)

Sources[edit]
 This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC BY-SA IGO
3.0 License statement: The State of the World's Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture − In
Brief, FAO, FAO. To learn how to add open license text to Wikipedia articles, please see this
how-to page. For information on reusing text from Wikipedia, please see the terms of use.

References[edit]
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External links[edit]
  Ecology of Increasing Disease Population growth and environmental degradation
 Environmental Change in the Kalahari: Integrated Land Degradation Studies for
Nonequilibrium Dryland Environments in the Annals of the Association of American
Geographers
 Public Daily Brief Threat: Environmental Degradation
 Focus: Environmental degradation is contributing to health threats worldwide
 Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Systems-Water Reactors
 Herndon and Gibbon Lieutenants United States Navy The First North American Explorers of
the Amazon Valley, by Historian Normand E. Klare. Actual Reports from the explorers are
compared with present Amazon Basin conditions.
 Environmental Degradation Index by Jha & Murthy (for 174 countries)

https://www.thesundaily.my/local/govt-to-reduce-non-revenue-water-to-31-by-end-of-11mp-
YX550230

KUANTAN: The government is focusing on reducing non-revenue water (NRW) to 31% by the
end of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources Dr Xavier
Jayakumar said.
He said, he was personally dissatisfied with the NRW rate which recorded an average loss of
5,929 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water, which was sufficient to meet the water
demand in Selangor at 3,316 MLD or Johor (1,320 MLD).
“One of the primary causes for this is mainly old pipes, especially the fragile and leaky asbestos
cement (AC) pipes that are still widely available in the distribution system by 27% or 41,560km
according to the 2017 statistics.
“In this regard, among the initiatives taken is to implement the National NRW Reduction
Programme 2018/2020 involving an allocation of RM1.39 billion until 2020, where its main
scope is to change and replace the pipes on a large scale,“ he said.
Dr Xavier said this at a press conference after launching the factory manufacturing the PVC-O
(Oriented Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride) by Syarikat Molecor (SEA) Sdn Bhd in Gebeng,
here, today. Also present was Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry Secretary-General
Datuk Zurinah Pawanteh.
He said Kedah recorded the highest use of AC pipes, namely 53% followed by Perlis and
Kelantan, 49% respectively, and the states also recorded the highest NRW rates, namely Kedah
(48%), Perlis (63%) and Kelantan (49%).
Meanwhile, the NRW rate in Pahang was still high at 48% although the use of AC pipe was only
26%.
In this regard, Dr Xavier hopes the states’ water operators can assess the need to convert AC
pipes to better pipelines, such as the PVC-O pipes to reduce the risk of leakage due to corrosion
that often occurs in AC pipes.
“The life expectancy of these pipes is 50 years compared to 30 years for ordinary pipes, and I am
also informed that PVC-O pipe is suitable for the existing water supply system due to better
hydraulic performance, using lightweight and easy-to-instal materials,” he said.
Dr Xavier added that so far, PVC-O pipes were installed in 10 states, among them Negeri
Sembilan, Kelantan and Selangor involving a total of 450km.
Meanwhile, commenting on water tariff rates, Dr Xavier said Pahang showed positive
developments in discussions to raise water tariffs while negotiations were still ongoing with the
other states.
“The issue is not because we want to raise water tariffs alone but at the same time we want the
water company to work more efficiently and have a system that can bring major changes in the
water industry.
“This is not about making profits, but it means there is no excessive spending because the
industry has a responsibility to the public. Water is a human rights issue but there are still areas
where people do not have access to water,” he said.
Meanwhile, Molecor (SEA) Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Ir Low Keng Kok said the plant, which
started operations in 2016 with an investment of RM120 million, produces 11,000 metric tonnes
or equivalent to 3,000km of Hypo PVC-O pipes per annum.
He said the PVC-O pipe was produced through collaboration and technology transfer with the
Molecor Tecnologia SL Spanish Company. — Bernama

Non-Revenue Water or NRW is the amount of treated water that is put into a supply system
but does not bring in revenue to the water supply company. The main components that
contribute to NRW are pipe leakages, reservoir overflows, meter under-registration and
illegal connections. Our engineers offer solutions to help eliminate the impacts of NRW to
your revenue stream and operational expenses for a more sustainable result.

eprints.usm.my/32189/1/LAI_CHEE_HUI_24(NN).pdf
KAJIAN PERBANDINGAN ISU DAN CABARAN DALAM PENGURANGAN

KADAR AIR TIDAK BERHASIL DI PULAU PINANG DAN PERLIS, MALAYSIA

ABSTRAK
Di Malaysia, ketidakupayaan negeri-negeri dalam pengurangan kadar Air Tidak

Berhasil (NRW) telah memberi kesan negatif terhadap negara dalam pengurusan air. Tujuan

kajian adalah untuk mengenal pasti isu-isu dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh pembekal

perkhidmatan air (PPA) di Malaysia dalam pengurangan kadar NRW di negeri masing

masing. Satu penyelesaian yang mempertimbangkan pelbagai faktor-faktor dalam

pengurangan NRW telah dicipata dalam kajian ini. Kaedah campuran yang mengabungkan

kaedah kualitatif dan kaedah kuantitatif telah digunakan dalam kajian ini. Kedua-dua faktor

dalaman dan luaran yang mempengaruhi prestasi PPA dalam proses pengurangan NRW telah

dikaji dengan membandingkan pengurusan NRW di Pulau Pinang (kadar NRW yang

terendah) dan Perlis (kadar NRW yang tertinggi) melalui temubual kualitatif dan

pemerhatian. Persepsi orang awam dan penglibatan mereka dalam pengurangan NRW juga

dikaji melalui soal selidik. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa kehilangan fizikal (real loss)

dan kehilangan komersil (apparent loss) merupakan dua elemen utama yang menyebabkan

kadar NRW tinggi di banyak negeri di Malaysia. Minat unit pengurusan, sumber manusia,

kemampuan kewangan, dan kapasiti teknikal sesuatu PPA dalam pengurangan NRW telah

dikenali sebagai faktor-faktor dalaman yang mempengaruhi sesuatu PPA dalam

mengurangkan NRW. Bagi faktor luaran, penglibatan pihak berkepentingan, penglibatan

orang awam, dan dasar pengurangan NRW yang komprehensif dikenalpasti sebagai faktor

penting. Dalam perbandingan pengurangan NRW di Pulau Pinang dan Perlis, strategi

pengurangan NRW di Pulau Pinang telah meliputi kedua-dua strategi pencegahan

(preventive) dan asas (basic) yang boleh mengelakkan kerugian NRW. Sebaliknya, strategi

pengurangan NRW yang digunakan oleh Perlis hanya strategi asas yang boleh

menyelesaikan isu-isu NRW apabila ia dijumpai dan dilaporkan. Di samping itu, kajian ini

xiii
juga mendapati bahawa penglibatan orang awam dalam pengurangan NRW di Pulau Pinang

dan Perlis masih rendah dan perlu ditingkatkan. Ini adalah sebab kebanyakan responden dari

kedua-dua negeri itu tidak mempunyai pengetahuan, kesedaran, dan persepsi yang baik

mengenai isu NRW. Kedua-dua Pulau Pinang dan Perlis masih perlu melakukan banyak

kerja supaya orang awam boleh dilibatkan dalam mengurangkan NRW. Berdasarkan

keputusan kajian, cadangan untuk memperbaiki pengurusan NRW di kedua-dua negeri Pulau

Pinang dan Perlis telah dibuat. Akhir sekali, kajian ini menyimpulkan bahawa pengurangan

NRW memerlukan sumbangan daripada semua pihak yang berkaitan. Satu rangka kerja

pengurusan NRW yang menyeluruh akhirnya telah dicadangkan sebagai penyelesaian bagi

PPA dalam mengurangkan NRW. Rangka kerja ini membekalkan suatu strategi pengurusan

komprehensif yang lebih baik mengenai bagaimana prestasi PPA dalam mengurangkan

NRW boleh ditingkatkan melalui pengurusan faktor dalaman dan faktor luaran.

MALAYSIA, JULY 1, 2019 -- A technology trial involving

installation of 295 Enigma3m remote correlating noise loggers in a
water distribution network in the State of Johor, Malaysia, has
successfully cut net night flow by a third. Yoo Sun Chan, general
manager, Primayer Sdn Bhd, and Roger Ironmonger, managing
director, Primayer explain how the work was carried out.
The state of Johor in southern Malaysia is better known for its beaches
and rainforest than its water infrastructure, but water supply company
Ranhill SAJ, a subsidiary of Ranhill Holdings Berhad, has set a
challenging target to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) to 5% by 2025.

In December 2018 NRW -- loss through leaks, bursts and

unauthorized connections - was 24% and a number of actions was set
in motion. Firstly, smart district metered areas (DMAs) of the water
distribution network were implemented, with five DMAs involved in
the first phase.

UK leakage technology specialist Primayer was approached by Ranhill

through Mimtech, the company’s authorized distributor for the
southern region of Malaysia, and the Enigma3m advanced remote
correlating noise loggers were deployed in a three-month trial
throughout August, September and October 2018.
Leakage crews were able manage incidents efficiently and effectively.
The aim of the first month of the project was to locate leaks from the
correlations obtained from the Enigma3m loggers; during the second
month leaks were repaired and further monitoring was carried out in
the third month. The trial was carried on Bandar Putra B DMA in the
state capital Johor Bahru, with a total pipeline length of 38.51km and
some 5,052 connections under investigation.
The leakage rate was determined by measuring the net night flow
(NNF) and subtracting legitimate night flow from the minimum night
flow. Prior to installation of Enigma3m NNF was 30.99l/s and total
daily flow rate was 6,200m3/day.

During the implementation of the smart DMA program, a total of 295

Enigma3m units were installed by the team from Ranhill Water
Services. The Enigma3m loggers were installed at hydrant valves, air
release valves and on exposed fittings along the pipeline. The distance
between sites for Enigma3m units varied depending on whether the
pipes were metal or polyethylene.

The Enigma3m loggers installed in Johor use GPRS communications

to transmit daily noise data from leaks to remotely locate leaks in
water distribution networks, a major step-up from traditional
techniques which include the use of metal rods to listen for leaks from
above ground. They are deployed in underground chambers and
require no outlay on surface level equipment.

Deployment of multiple loggers means correlation can be performed,

locating leak positions more accurately. Leak location results can be
viewed on PrimeWeb, Primayer’s cloud-based data collection platform
for water network pressure, flow and leak location monitoring.

PrimeWeb makes collection of real-time data possible, along with

visual display of water network hydraulic data, leak alarms and
correlated leak positions. Ranhill SAJ’s on-the-ground leakage crews
were able to locate incidents using Google Maps and, together with
street-view visualization of leak positions, manage incidents efficiently
and effectively.

A total of 115 leaks were found and repaired in Bandar Putra B DMA
during the Enigma3m trial. Small leaks at hydrant valves and
communication pipes were also located. After three months of
Enigma3m installation, NNF was reduced by over a third to 20.08 l/s.
This gives a saving of 705m3/day water, with a total cost saving of
approximately £3,050 (US$4,000) per month.

Zainudin Ngadiran, section head of the NRW control department of

Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd, said, “A challenging target for leak reduction
has been set by Ranhill SAJ and we are exploring technologies than
can pinpoint leakage to help us reduce levels of non-revenue water
rapidly. The trials with Primayer have shown that it is possible to
deploy sensors that can precisely locate leaks, enabling our teams to
carry out rapid repairs.”

Ranhill SAJ serves a 3.1 million population and manages 22,175km of

pipes over an area of approximately 19,000km2. The company intends
to expand implementation of the Smart DMA concept across Johor
state and some of the state’s most critical DMAs will be managed
permanently with Enigma3m, depending on the age of infrastructure
and site conditions. It is expected that more Enigma3m loggers will be
required for the expanding program.
A total of 115 leaks were found and repaired in Bandar Putra B DMA during the Enigma3m
trial.A total of 115 leaks were found and repaired in Bandar Putra B
DMA during the Enigma3m trial. Small leaks at hydrant valves and
communication pipes were also located. After three months of
Enigma3m installation, NNF was reduced by over a third to 20.08 l/s.
This gives a saving of 705m3/day water, with a total cost saving of
approximately £3,050 (US$4,000) per month.
Zainudin Ngadiran, section head of the NRW control department of
Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd, said, “A challenging target for leak reduction
has been set by Ranhill SAJ and we are exploring technologies than
can pinpoint leakage to help us reduce levels of non-revenue water
rapidly. The trials with Primayer have shown that it is possible to
deploy sensors that can precisely locate leaks, enabling our teams to