I WRITE to express concern over Malaysia’s persistent non-revenue water (NRW) problem.
Billions of ringgit are being spent on replacing old pipes and installing smart sensors.
While these efforts are necessary, simpler and cheaper solutions above ground are still being overlooked.
Every time a local council plants a large tree near a water main without consulting the water operator, it may also be planting the seeds of a future pipe failure.
Tree-root intrusion is a well-known cause of physical leaks, yet there is still no national policy in Malaysia requiring coordination between water utility companies and urban planners to prevent this.
The problem does not stop at the roadside.
In many housing areas, mango, coconut and rambutan trees can be seen growing directly above water lines, planted by homeowners without regard for what lies beneath.
Others pour concrete for car porches or extend structures without realising they may be covering access to critical pipes.
This is not just a matter of ignorance.
Under the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655), planting deep-rooted trees or building structures over water mains without approval is an offence punishable by a fine of up to RM500,000, imprisonment, or both.
Yet enforcement appears to be minimal.
Two practical measures remain missing from the national response.
First, root-free zones should be created by law.
Trees with aggressive root systems should not be planted near water mains, whether by local councils or residents.
This is not an anti-tree move; it is a matter of common sense.
Shallow-rooted plants and proper root barriers should be required in utility easements.
That would cost far less than digging up roads to repair burst pipes later.
Second, local councils and water operators must be required to coordinate.
Water-asset maps should be shared with local authorities before landscaping or development approvals are given.
At present, local councils may approve planting or works without full knowledge of where water infrastructure lies.
A simple Geographic Information System (GIS) sharing arrangement could prevent years of avoidable damage.
The National Water Services Commission and state water operators must look beyond the pipes themselves and address the planning decisions around them.
They must also pay closer attention to what happens within private property, where weak enforcement is allowing the next generation of leaks to take root.
The answer to NRW does not lie only underground.
It also lies in how we plan our cities and regulate what is built and planted above vital infrastructure.
PHILIP MR
Seremban
