Water grading system will help state govts to earn more revenue, says Tuan Ibrahim

PUTRAJAYA: Selling raw water according to its quality grade will help state governments generate better income from the sale, says the Environment and Water Ministry.

Its minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said currently, raw water is sold between states at an average price, and not according to its quality grade.

“Under the current system, raw water is only sold for one price. So, we are suggesting that states get more revenue from the sale of their raw water.

“With a grading system, we can have four grades of raw water. "Grade one water, for example, can be sold at a higher price because the cost to treat it will be cheaper compared to grades three and four,” said Tuan Ibrahim at a press conference here Thursday (March 11).

Tuan Ibrahim said in addition to being a useful source of income for the states, the environment will also be preserved.

“This will create a mechanism in which states that protect their environment can benefit from the revenue that comes from having clean water,” he said.

The minister said the ministry has engaged with state governments of Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang and Johor, and have received positive feedback on the proposed raw water grading system.

“Right now, without the grading system, states that take care of their raw water will only earn the same revenue earned by other states that do not,” he said.

Tuan Ibrahim was speaking to reporters after a ceremony held in conjunction with the one-year anniversary of his ministership.

Also present were Deputy minister Datuk Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad and ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang.

Zaini said the grading of raw water resources would not burden consumers, as the cost of water processing is borne by the water operators.

"The cleaner the raw water is, the lesser the cost to treat the water by water operators,” he said.