PETALING JAYA: Using reclaimed water as an alternative water source is a proactive approach that helps tackle rising challenges concerning water supply, says the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
Citing the United Nations Environment Program, SPAN chairman Charles Santiago said only 11% of wastewater was currently recycled globally, underscoring the need to address this vast untapped potential.
"The rising water scarcity has resulted in the use of reclaimed water or treated wastewater as an alternative option.
"Wastewater is a valuable resource that can be used beneficially to meet water supply and demand gaps," he said during his keynote speech at the Rising To The Water Regulatory Challenge and Future Changes forum in Putrajaya on Tuesday (Sept 26).
He said national sewerage services operator Indah Water Konsortium also recorded that treated wastewater amounted to six million litres per day from the 7,273 sewage treatment plants under its maintenance.
This is 5.3 times the size of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant and equivalent to 2,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, Santiago added.
"The huge amount can be further treated as non-potable water for use in the manufacturing process, non-food based industries, or non-food crop agricultural sectors.
"Industrial areas such as Shah Alam in Selangor, Batu Berendam in Melaka, Bayan Baru in Penang and Pasir Gudang in Johor, can benefit from this reclaimed water," he said.
He said collectively using reclaimed water, reducing non-revenue water, and existing resources from the river and dam would create a sustainable approach to water supplies by increasing the buffer for water resources during critical periods.
Santiago also pointed out how the water sectors involved major capital expenditure development and was prone to misconduct, or leakages.
"Integrity and governance is one of the crucial challenges to the sustainable maintenance of water and sewerage services," he said.
"We propose that operators and suppliers in the water supply and sewerage services industry allocate 1% of their annual operating budget for the integrity program.
"SPAN also encourages operators to digitise the procurement process in order to ensure transparency and accountability," he added.
Santiago said it was also time to utilise Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks to manage water sustainably.
SPAN, he said, also committed to several climate pledges and began adopting various ESG practices.
This includes establishing an online system for licence and permit applications as well as registrations, and the formation of an ESG unit to create awareness, build capacity and develop an industry framework.
Industry players should also continue working together towards achieving sustainable water solutions and raising awareness on sustainable water solutions, Santiago said.
