Clean water for the nation
Clean water for the nation
The Star Sunday July 29, 2007
By TEE LIN DEE
THE next time you feel thirsty, be thankful that drinking a glass of water is as simple as turning on the tap. There is no fear of diarrhea from drinking tap water here as in some countries where poor water quality continues to ravage innocent children. In a world where one third of the population lack clean drinking water and sanitation, we need to be grateful for the quality of our drinking water. While many take it for granted, the machinery behind it has worked hard to ensure water that reaches the Malaysian household is safe and treated. The surveillance of drinking water quality is the responsibility of the Health Ministry. Pre- independence, sampling and record keeping by the Water Supply Authorities were carried out at a minimal, but efforts were expanded soon after. A high incidence of waterborne diseases led the MOH to review existing practices in 1983 and the National Drinking Water Quality Surveillance Programme (NDWQSP) was formulated in 1986 with the cooperation of various agencies. The objective was to raise the standard of health by ensuring safety and acceptability of drinking water provided. The guidelines for the programme were drawn up with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO) and a few other agencies in 1983 to ensure effective implementation by all states in 1986. Unbeknownst to the public, water supply from 454 treatment plants are analysed for physical, bacteriological and chemical parameters. They are sent to the Department of Chemistry for analysis where if a violation in standard is detected; the relevant water authority will be instantly notified for remedial actions. Good results came from conscientious efforts for in 2006, the percentage of water samples that met the national standards was 99% (bacteriological quality), 96% (residual chlorine) and 97% (turbidity). Drinking water quality was generally considered acceptable. The future looks clear for a Safe Drinking Water Act to empower the MOH in controlling drinking water quality and all matters affecting the health of the public through contamination of water supply. With water supply systems being privatised round the country, an act like that is apt for clean drinking water is indeed a commodity not to be taken for granted.
(Note from Water Watch Penang: If 99% of piped water in Malaysia passed the bacteriological quality standard, it means 1 % failed. This indirectly means 1% of our population is exposed to bacteriological threats from drinking piped water. Likewise, if 96% of piped water passed the residual chlorine standard, it means 4% failed, or indirectly 4% of Malaysians are exposed to "overdose" of residual chlorine. Finally, if 97% of piped water passed the turbidity standard, another 3% did not, meaning 3% of Malaysians are exposed to high turbidity in piped water.