Underground water resources will be proposed as the new source for national water as its use so far is still low, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Saturday (Mar 25).
This was because underground water reserves totaled three trillion cubic metres, but its usage contributed to only 1.5 per cent to the country's overall consumption, he said.
"Our country has many water resources and receives 907 billion cubic metres of rainfall each year, which is something extraordinary, but we do not have enough water.
"It is impossible that a country with many water resources faces water shortage ... this means that we are weak in managing water. As chairman of the National Water Resources Council, I am affected if there are states, either in the Peninsula or Sabah and Sarawak facing water a shortage ... this is a big challenge," he said.
He was speaking at the launch of national-level celebrations for the World Water Day 2017 with the theme "waste water" at Dataran Teluk Kemang.
Commenting further, Ahmad Zahid said efficient management of water was the responsibility of all parties, both at the federal government and state government levels, in order to avoid water shortages.
He also outlined four main focus for sustainability of the national sewerage services industry.
The four focus areas are the modernisation of sewerage services through the application of new technologies which are environment-friendly and increasing coverage and accessibility in rural areas including major towns outside the Klang Valley.
Also given focus is the rationalisation of mini and uneconomical sewage treatment plants to reduce the pollution effects of affluent to the environment as well as "waste-to-wealth" commercialisation efforts.
Source : This is part of an article originally published in Channel News Asia.
