PENGURUSAN Air Selangor Sdn Bhd’s (Air Selangor) plan for a water reclamation plant supports circular economy and strengthens the Selangor government’s efforts to ensure a reliable supply of clean water.
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Institute for Social Science Studies laboratory head Assoc Prof Dr Haliza Abdul Rahman said reusing waste resources also reduced pressure on the environment.
It allowed potable water to be channelled to household consumers, reducing the burden during times of crisis or high demand, she said.
It also demonstrated the state government and water utility’s commitment to sustainable development by supporting non-potable water use for industries like data centres and investing in infrastructure, she added.
“This initiative supports the Water Sector Transformation 2040 vision, which positions treated water as a renewable resource,” she told Bernama.
The roadmap was launched by the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (Petra) in October.
“With more alternative sources, Air Selangor will have a better safety margin to accommodate supply disruptions, infrastructure replacement or sudden spikes in demand.
“Overall, the approach implemented by Selangor could also serve as a national model to guarantee long-term water security and support sustainable economic development,” she added.
Reclaimed water is deemed a lower-risk alternative as it is less exposed to pollution coming directly from sewage treatment plants which are managed and enclosed, said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Climate Change (IPI) Environmental Management Centre head, Assoc Prof Dr Wan Hanna Melini Wan Mohtar.
If reclaimed water becomes widespread in industry, it could help address the water crises in the Klang Valley during the dry season, she added.
“A stable, additional source of reclaimed water means that a portion of the existing water volume, which was previously allocated to industry, can now be reallocated as a supplementary volume for domestic use.
She said the initiative can be implemented in states that face high industrial water demand and pressure on existing river and reservoir resources.
In November, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Petra Minister, commended Amazon Web Services, Air Selangor, Indah Water Konsortium and Central Water Reclamation Sdn Bhd for a pact to form the Klang Valley’s first integrated reclaimed water supply chain for data centre operations.
He said it demonstrated that coordination between the state and Federal Government, coupled with private sector participation could deliver tangible results for communities and industry.
