MALAYSIA
The Star-Mar 11
Based on a statement yesterday by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, the flow of water to homes and businesses in the Klang Valley should be back to normal by now.
And by this time next week, despite the fierce exchange of political potshots over the supply interruption that began on Tuesday, much will be forgotten and people in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur will probably be using water like there had never been any problem.
Taking our water for granted is a terrible mistake. We have gone through enough water crises to have at least a vague grasp of the truth that our wasteful and short-sighted ways lead to shortages and disruptions. And yet, we keep seeing the same pattern of apathy, carelessness and ignorance.
Households in Selangor benefit from the state’s free water scheme. Many people forget that their subsidized bills do not reflect the actual cost of the water that comes through their taps. They see little compulsion for prudent consumption. That is, until they are forced to use water sparingly because of rationing or cuts during dry spells.
Another example of how we shoot ourselves in the foot is when man-made pollution fouls rivers from which treatment plants get their water. More money has to be spent to make the water fit for use. And sometimes the contamination is so bad that the plants have to be shut down.
And we cannot ignore the impact of climate change on our water resources. Like it or not, we will feel it.
According to the United Nations, water is the “primary medium through which we will feel the effects of climate change”. But do we care how we contribute to climate change?
The bottom line: We should do all we can to truly treat water as the precious commodity that it is. The politicians are always likely to point fingers at each other when trouble strikes. Perhaps we need to take a step back and listen to others as well.
For example, the Malaysian Water Association urges Malaysians to change their water consumption habits, saying our usage was high compared to that of many other countries.
The National Water Services Commission’s website shows that Malaysia’s average daily consumption of water in both 2015 and 2016 was 209 liters per capita. The target was 180 liters.
Singapore’s national water agency says the country’s per capita household water consumption was reduced from 165 liters per day in 2003 to 143 liters in 2017. If all goes well, the figure will be 140 liters by 2030.
Sure, a comparison to a city state is not entirely fair, but the fact remains that we fell short of our own target of 180 liters.
It is worth repeating the views of association president Datuk Abdul Kadir Mohd Din, as quoted in The Star report yesterday. He said Malaysians failed to appreciate the value of water because they knew little about where water comes from and the cost of treatment, delivery, infrastructure and maintenance.
Another factor is the “cheap” water. “Other countries with high tariff rates have seen lower consumption. The sense of ownership of the water assets is also lacking and that leads to the poor sharing of responsibility such as monitoring leakages at public and domestic pipelines,” he added.
And let us turn to South Africa, where Cape Town is facing a severe water crisis that threatens to push the city towards the dreaded Day Zero.
A National Geographic article has an interesting statement by David Olivier, a research fellow from a South African university. Said Olivier, “The fundamental problem is the kind of lifestyle we’re living. There’s almost a sense of entitlement that we have a right to consume as much as we want. The attitude and reaction of most posts on social media is indignation. It’s ‘we pay our taxes’ and therefore we should be as comfortable as possible.”
That sounds very familiar. Many of us in Malaysia feel equally entitled to such comfort, but if we carry on using water unthinkingly, one day, there may be a lot less comfort to enjoy.
(First published in The Star – https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/the-star-says/2018/03/11/we-will-be-left-high-and-dry-if-water-wastage-continues/#5kkMAF60V6J6YO0B.99)
