Water going down the drain

KUALA LUMPUR: A recent survey among Malaysians shows that 70% of them do not intend to change their wasteful habits when it comes to water use for the next three years.

According to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui, the Domestic Water Consumption Study found that Malaysians used an average of 226 litres of water daily, compared to 155 litres in Singapore and 90 litres in Thailand.

The study is a collaboration between the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) and the ministry.

“The recommended water consumption for this country is 165 litres per day. This is a sad reflection on the wasteful nature of consumers who do not practise sustainable water consumption.

“If Malaysians follow the recommended water usage, they can save up to 28.2 cubic metres per household, or RM18.33 a month,” Chin said when opening the Green Community Carnival 2011 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here yesterday.

He said little acts such as leaving the tap running while brushing teeth and ignoring leaky faucets would result in a substantial amount of treated water going down the drain.

“There is an urgent need to identify problem areas and risk factors in relation to the environment and quality of life,” he said.

The one-day carnival themed “1Hijau 1Komuniti” organised by the ministry and GreenTech Malaysia was aimed at encouraging the public to adopt a greener way of life.

The event, which drew about 4,000 visitors, saw various activities such as green games for children and a mini-concert, among others. — Bernama