We Must Use Water Wisely

The Star, Saturday February 10, 2007

Over the past few days, The Star has carried alarming news of an impending water crisis (The Star, Feb 7) and warnings for the public to conserve water or face rationing (The Star, Feb 8).  
If the public do not heed the warnings and carry on wasting water (Malaysians use on average over 300 litres per capita per day compared to the UN recommended level of 165 litres per capita per day), a drought will escalate into a water crisis. 
Malaysians are fortunate because the country is rich in water resources. Often heavy rains result in floods such as in Johor recently. Floods give policymakers and the public a false picture, as rainfall is unevenly distributed over time and space. 
The irony is that we are hit by drought and water stress (not to mention poor quality piped water).  
The El Nino weather phenomenon of 1997/98 not only laid bare the fragility of our water resources, but also weaknesses in their management. 
How else can a country with an average of 3,000mm of rain per year and per capita renewable water resources of more than 20,000m3 (the international water stress line is 1,700m3) be subject to water stress and water crisis if not for mismanagement? 
Consumers must be taught the value of water and how to use it wisely. There must be campaigns carried out continuously so that the entire nation can be reached and sensitised. 
One easy and painless way to start is to get everyone to reduce water usage by flushing once less per day. This is easily done, as one does not need to flush after every pee. 
The average person urinates about five to seven times a day. Flush once after every two pees. But do so to ensure hygiene is not jeopardised. 
Close the toilet bowl with the cover or put some pandan leaves in the toilet to reduce smell. One flush is equivalent to using nine litres of water. 
If every Malaysian flushes one less per day, we will save 234 million litres of water every day! This amount of water can fill up about 10 medium size dams, and the water saved can then be used during a drought or El Nino. For other water-saving tips, please visit our website: www.waterwatchpenang.org.  
 
Dr CHAN NGAI WENG, 
Professor, 
Geography Section, 
Universiti Sains Malaysia.