Major Water Issue

1. Title: Major Water Issue Yam Yih Hwan (0305861)
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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
BACHELOR OF QUANTITY SURVEYING (HONOURS)
QSB2453 – Sustainable Housing & Development
Major Water Issues
AUG Semester 2015
Individual Assignment
Submission Date: 1st
October 2015
Name Student ID Marks
Yam Yih Hwan 0305861

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1.0 Introduction
Sustainability has become an important concept in economic growth and development around
the world. The Malaysian government has sought to promote comprehensive development since
the concept of sustainable development arose. However, the rapid pace of development
undertaken in Malaysia has also resulted in severe environment deterioration, decreases the non-
renewable resources and social inequity while bringing improvements in economic growth.
Most of this development is not possible without the usage of water. Therefore, water resources
must be developed and managed in a sustainable manner to ensure the social, economic and
environmental development of the current and future generations are not been threaten. (Forum
21, n.d.)
2.0 Availability of Water Resource
Malaysia is considered as a country rich in water resources due to the two Monsoon season which
happened every year at the Southwest, from late May to September, and the Northeast, from
November to March. The Northeast brings in more rainfall comparedto the Southwest, originating
in China and the north Pacific. Furthermore, an average of 3,000mm rainfall annually which
makes up a total volume of 990 billion cubic meters (BCM) of total annual water resources
received in the country. This amount comprised 360 (BCM) untreated water that is needed to
maintain in the process of evapo-transpiration within the water cycle, and the remaining 630BCM,
within the Groundwater and Surface Runoff of 64 (BCM) + 566 (BCM), shown the country’s total
available water. This amount shown the availability to approximately 20,000 cubic meters of water
available in the country per person per year. However, due to the degradation of water resources,
the amount of available and usable water may be much lesser than expected. The following table
shown, the estimated total annual water resources in Malaysia. (Forum 21, n.d.)

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Estimated Total Annual Water Resource in Malaysia
Hydrological Parameter Total Volume per Annum (Billion m3)
1. Annual Rainfall (3,000 mm) 990
2. Evapo-transpiration 360
3. Effective Rainfall (1 - 2) 630
4. Surface Runoff 566
5. Groundwater Recharge 64
3.0 Major Water Issues
Major Water Issues Affecting Sustainable Development in Malaysia
In Malaysia, there are a few major water issues affecting sustainable development. First of all,
due to the over-emphasis on Water Supply Management (WSM), the approach of WSM, involved
the construction of dams, water treatment plants, pipes for water supply distribution and etc., in
solving increasing water needs in Malaysia is not sustainable. Besides that, high rates of water
wastage in the domestic, industrial and agriculture sectors are also one of the causes. Malaysia
has high rates of Non-Revenue Water (NRW), national average of 40%, which means 40 liters
water will loss out from every 100 liters water. By addressing the Non-Revenue Waterissue, there
would be adequate water supply and hence, no immediate needs to build more new dams. (Forum
21, n.d.)
Moreover, most of the legislations relating to water are not enforced. Enforcements are needed
to be strengthened to address on water pollution, water abuse and other water related problems.
Due to water pollution, it significantly reduces the sustainability of water resources because of the
needs and increasing cost required in treating those polluted water. Not only that, changes of
weather patterns which occur globally and locally may render water resources inadequate in the
long term. This issue needs to be taken into account in planning water resources development.
(Forum 21, n.d.)
Furthermore, low water tariffs in Malaysia led to blatant wastage and over-usage of water.
Privatization of the water sector is determined among others by transparency and accountability,

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and requires equity, economic and environmental considerations. Unsuccessful privatization
means unsustainable water management. Last but not least, inefficiency of water consumption in
agricultural. Agriculture uses about 68.2% of total water consumption. Irrigation efficiency must
be improved because at best, it is about 50% in larger irrigation schemes and less than 40% in
smaller ones. Water recycling and sustainable agriculture practices also have to be emphasize.
(Forum 21, n.d.)
4.0 Ways to overcome Water Issues
There are a few ways to overcome the water issues arose in Malaysia. Firstly, numbers of Water
Treatment Plants is required. It helps on treating wastewater so it can be used again in the field.
Even in countries with concerns about making it part of their drinking-water supply, recycled water
can be put to work in agricultural and residential irrigation and for industrial uses. Secondly,
improvement on water management. In the near future, water efficiency may soon become as
important as energy efficiency, therefore companies must have good water management. Good
management on water may increase on their profit and reduced the loss. Thirdly, increasing
demand of Water Infrastructure and Supply. Wastewater treatment and other efforts to make the
most of water supplies will have far-reaching investment implications involving everything from
engineering and construction services to pipes, pumps and valves. (Merrill Lynch Global
Research, n.d.)
More ways to overcome Water Issues, for examples; emphasize on the change of water
consumption amongst the citizens and private sectors, invention on new Water Conservation
Technologies, improve irrigation and agricultural practices, improve water catchment and
harvesting, holistically manage ecosystems,improveddistribution of water onto infrastructure and
population growth control. (Tress, S., 2010)
5.0 Conclusion
In order for Malaysia to become an advanced country on sustainable development, it is required
to identify the problems and the ways to overcome the major water issues occurred. However, as
a citizen of Malaysia, we have to avoid ourselves from causing this problems as well.

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References
1. Merrill Lynch Global Research. (n.d.) The Coming Water Crisis... And What We Can Do to
Solve It. Retrieved from https://www.ml.com/articles/the-coming-water-crisis-and-what-we-
can-do-to-solve-it.html. [Accessed 25 September 2015].
2. Tress, S. (2010, June 10). 19 ways to solve the freshwater crisis. Retrieved from
http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/06/10/19-ways-to-solve-the-freshwater-crisis/. [Accessed
25 September 2015].
3. Forum 21. (n.d.). SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS REPORT FOR
MALAYSIA. Retrieved from
http://awsassets.wwf.org.my/downloads/water_resources_chapter_website.pdf. [Accessed
25 September 2015].