Could Singapore's ways hold the answer to Malaysia's Penang water shortage?

By Liani MK

IN April, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) issued an alert when the water level of key dams dropped to about 50 percent. Then, a month later, taps in parts of the state ran dry, as supply was disrupted by a technical failure at Kedah's Sungai Muda dam.

And amid a long-standing dispute over raw water supply with neighbouring Kedah, concerns over self-sufficiency have become the focus.

"The most serious concern is that Penang is heavily dependent on just one major source of water, Sungai Muda, which is shared between Kedah and Penang," explains Dr Chan Ngai Weng, the head of non-governmental organisation Water Watch Penang (WWP).

But the problem, he notes, is not confined to the fact that more than 80 percent of Penang's water needs are supplied by Sungai Muda or that only about 10 percent of the island's land area is dedicated to water catchment.

Rather, it is that a host of other issues have compounded the problem, including logging in the Ulu Muda forest, pollution, and Kedah's demands for payment for raw water.

Hence, the worry that Penang will remain overly water-stressed until something concrete is done.

A problem of over-consumption

To be clear, the Penang state government had, in May, announced eight water new projects to help ease the state's water woes.

It has also engaged in cloud seeding, is expanding existing dams and renewing discussions on interstate water distribution.

However, even these may not be enough, Dr Chan says, given Penang's water consumption, which has risen 275 percent in 25 years.

Josephine Tan Mei Ling, the general manager of Penang Green Council (PGC), an organisation that has been mandated by the state government to invest in green efforts, concurs on this point.

Interestingly, however, she notes that Penang's overconsumption may not be only due to industrial activity, but also cheap water tariffs and public apathy.

She explains: "In 2022, PBAPP data showed Penangites used 307 litres per capita per day (LCD) as compared to the national average of 244 LCD in 2020 and Singapore's statistic of 158 LCD in 2021."

And that, alongside Penang's lack of raw water sources, has made the state "water-poor".

Lessons from across the Causeway

Even so, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim, a professor of environmental management at UCSI University, believes that the state could find a way out of its present quagmire — if it takes a leaf out of Singapore's water supply playbook.

Prof Ahmad explains that Singapore uses the "Four National Taps" approach, which encompasses water from local catchments, imported water, reclaimed water (branded as NEWater), and desalinated water.

And according to him, a similarly comprehensive strategy might be the ticket for Penang.

He also points to how Singapore has succeeded in reducing its dependency on Malaysia for water by employing innovations like NEWater, which involves the treatment of wastewater to a level that surpasses drinking water standards.

"NEWater is produced through a multi-step purification process involving microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet disinfection. (And in Singapore), this water is used in industrial processes, for cooling towers, and indirect potable (sanitary) use," Prof Ahmad says.

Additionally, the city-state has implemented an extensive rainwater harvesting system, to capture and store rainwater, as well as introduced measures like green roofs and rain gardens. And these have resulted in an integrated system that allows for different quality water to be channelled for different applications.

WWP's Dr Chan, too, believes that Penang can learn from Singapore, and adds that the state could easily focus on desalination.

Like Singapore, Penang is surrounded by the sea, he explains. Thus, the state could immediately reduce its dependence on Kedah and save it the trouble of having to negotiate with Perak, if it decides to implement that process on a large scale.

Technology and innovations aside, Dr Chan says that what Singapore also has is good public water education and river pollution control, which are important to managing water supply.

"Thankfully, (the Penang state government) has already taken the initiative to make it mandatory to install water-saving devices in all new developments in the state as part of its water demand management strategy," he says.

"(Nevertheless), other issues and concerns continue, putting huge question marks on the future water security of Penang."

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