Air Selangor holds to its commitment of delivering clean and safe treated water to 9.62 million consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
THOUSANDS have lived without love, not one without water, British-American poet W.H. Auden once said.
It’s a poetic line, but also a practical truth. Living beings can go weeks without food, but only a few days without water.
In fact, one of the longest anyone’s reportedly gone without it was Andreas Mihavecz, an Austrian teenager who was accidentally left in a police holding cell for 18 days back in 1979.
He reportedly made it through by licking condensation off the walls. This is not exactly ideal, but a reminder of just how essential water is to staying alive.
Here in Malaysia, millions rely every day on the steady flow of clean, safe water—something Air Selangor has been ensuring for the past six years.
As the country’s largest water services provider, Air Selangor recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its mission to supply over 9.6 million people across Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with reliable water service.
Reliable water, every day
Since its establishment, Air Selangor has committed itself to keeping the taps running and has set the benchmark for water service excellence in Asia by 2030—a task that is increasingly challenged by climate change and resource scarcity.
Yet, Air Selangor’s record over the past six years reveals an organisation focused on proactive improvement, operational transparency and people-first planning.
Take, for example, its drive to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW)—water that is lost before reaching consumers due to leaks or theft.
By 2025, Air Selangor has successfully brought the NRW rate down to 27.00%, saving 298.36 million litres per day—the equivalent of supplying water to hundreds of thousands of homes.
This achievement helps to reduce waste, and improve the efficiency and sustainability of water distribution across its network. Likewise, improved water reserve margins, now at 18.60% compared to 15.34% in 2023, mean that supply remains stable even in times of peak demand.
Behind these figures lies an intricate process of monitoring dams and water treatment plants (WTPs) daily to ensure the system operates like clockwork throughout dry spells or sudden surges in usage.
On the ground, Malaysians are also seeing fewer disruptions. The Pipe Burst Index has improved to 3.25 cases per 100km per year, down from 4.18 in 2023, thanks to the replacement of 1,008.56 kilometers of old pipes since 2016.
In terms of water quality, Air Selangor continues to meet 99.93% compliance with the Health Ministry’s stringent standards, maintaining this for four consecutive years.
The Air Selangor 2.0 mobile app allows users to report leaks and monitor their daily water usage.
Innovation meets sustainability
Air Selangor’s sixth year also highlights how technology and sustainability can go hand-in-hand. In 2024 alone, the utility invested RM690mil with nearly 70% directed at NRW reduction.
One of its most impressive achievements is the commissioning of a nine MWac solar PV system at the Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Phase 2.
This move reduced carbon emissions to 0.544 kgCO2e/m³ and saved RM6.78mil in energy costs.
The upcoming 10.5MWac Phase 3 project will expand this footprint, aligning with Malaysia’s broader climate goals.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s first Digital Twin WTP at Semenyih 2, a cutting-edge system of real-time simulations, monitoring and predictive analytics, has improved plant productivity by up to 20%.
This innovation helped Air Selangor secure a nomination at the 2025 Global Water Awards for Water Project of the Year.
Air Selangor chief executive officer Adam Saffian Ghazali (second left) stands with the LUOW Committee representatives following the company’s official induction into the Leading Utilities of the World network during the Global Water Summit 2025 held in Paris.
Putting Malaysia on the map
Recognition came not just in the form of technology awards. In 2025, Air Selangor became the first Malaysian utility inducted into the prestigious Leading Utilities of the World (LUOW) network, a mark of excellence previously reserved for the world’s top-performing water utilities.
The induction, held at the Global Water Summit in Paris, indicates Malaysia’s rising influence on the global stage of sustainable utility management.
Leaving thirst behind
The true measure of progress lies not in awards, but in impact, especially among the vulnerable. Through its Sesama Mara initiative, Air Selangor has enhanced lives in 2024 by distributing 1,800 food boxes, assisting 2,438 individuals from 19 welfare homes, and supporting 240 B40 students through various education and festive aid programmes.
Meanwhile, its Skim Air Darul Ehsan (SADE) has reached 337,851 beneficiaries as of August 2025, by providing free treated water to households in need, ensuring the less fortunate are given access to clean and safe treated water.
Celebrating unity, inspiring awareness
To celebrate its anniversary and deepen public awareness, Air Selangor launched the “62 Air Balang untuk Malaysia” campaign, held in conjunction with National Day and Malaysia Day during the Keretapi Sarong 2025 event.
The campaign brought people from all walks of life together through educational exhibits and cultural celebration, while serving a reminder that water, like identity, is something to be shared.
It also provided a platform to promote the upgraded Air Selangor 2.0 mobile app, enhancing consumer experience and making water services even more accessible at the tap of a screen.
Forward flowing future
Air Selangor’s sixth anniversary is not just a moment of reflection. It is a checkpoint, asking not only how far we’ve come, but how do the gains of its achievement feed into the next chapter?
With stronger infrastructure, smoother operations, as well as a more informed and connected public, it is safe to say that Air Selangor holds to its commitment of delivering clean, reliable and sustainable water to every Malaysian.
After all, love may be optional. But water is life.
