PENANG: All new housing projects in the state will have rain-harvesting facilities to help conserve water, said deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya.
He said the new policy would be adopted by both the Penang and Seberang Perai Municipal Councils.
“Water-collecting devices will be incorporated into every house compound and high-rise buildings to store rain water which can then be used for washing and cleaning.
“The devices can be in the form of small storage ponds or wells,” he said yesterday, adding that it was a waste to use treated pipe water to wash the car or water the plants.
Dr Hilmi said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had mooted the idea when briefed on the upcoming Taman Ilmu mini township in Seri Ampangan, Nibong Tebal, at the state Bumiputra Steering Committee on Thursday.
Abdullah had asked the developer, JKP Sdn Bhd, to feature the rain-harvesting devices into the development once the Housing Ministry issued the guidelines.
The measure was not only to conserve water but also to overcome the occasional water shortage in Penang.
JKP director Azmi Ariffin said they would wait for the ministry directive on the standard type of rain-harvesting facilities to be used.
“We can only introduce the facilities into the subsequent phases of our project since Phase One, comprising double-storey terrace (394 units), semi-detached (46) and low-cost houses (168) is almost completed,” he said.
He said the 80ha township, divided into 10 phases and comprising mostly landed properties, was targeted for completion in 2009.
