KUALA LUMPUR: Global Water Intelligence (GWI), a leading publisher and event’s organiser serving the international water industry, has named Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd a finalist for the 2023 Global Water Awards, in the Public Water Agency of the Year category with three other agencies.
This award recognises the achievements that bring the international water industry – water, wastewater and desalination sectors – forward, particularly in the areas of innovative technology adoption, performance and circular economy initiatives.
The Public Water Agency of the Year award rewards companies that made the biggest difference to water and wastewater service provision and utility management in 2022.
The award, representing national accomplishments on a global level, recognised IWK’s strides in implementing its roadmap to achieve excellence in its operations and environmental sustainability, pursuing a drive to ensure all its initiatives meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
“IWK is truly honoured to be selected and positioned with global companies in pursuit of a sustainable way forward for the water sector, “ says IWK chief executive officer Narendran Maniam.
“The recognition of our efforts in looking beyond our core of managing and maintaining efficient sewerage systems in Malaysia certainly reinforces our commitment to venture towards a more holistic wastewater management.
“This includes resource recovery which has not only created new business opportunities for the country but also served as a beacon of hope for a greener, and more sustainable future for Malaysia.”
In 2022, as part of its aspiration to be more than a sewerage company, IWK embarked on a series of sustainability and circular economy-driven initiatives by adopting green technologies and practices in its value chain.
The company generates 5MWh of energy a day from biogas which is produced as a by-product of its wastewater treatment process. To push the scales further in renewable energy generation and reduce carbon emissions, IWK has identified 900 sites to install solar panels on plants roofs and tanks to generate electricity.
IWK has embraced green technologies and innovative methods by turning its biosolids into bio fertiliser for non-food crop and landscape plants for commercial purposes. The biosolids mixed with other organic waste can also be fed to Black Soldier fly larvae to produce a full-fat protein meal; a sought-after feed meal for aquaculture industries especially ornamental fish farming.
The company has also reclaimed bioeffluent from its sewage treatment plants, producing recyclable water for non-potable uses by industrial sectors. Through various partnerships with local water operators, IWK’s overall potential of recycling bio-effluent stands at 300 million litres per day (MLD).
The Global Water Awards will be presented during the Global Water Summit in Berlin, Germany on May 9.
IWK is Malaysia’s national sewerage company, owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated with a regulatory framework under the Natural Resource, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, to develop and maintain a modern and efficient sewerage system in Malaysia.
