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Malaysia faces RM4 bil losses from water leakage by 2030

CYBERJAYA: In the next six years, Malaysia is projected to lose RM4.05 billion as national water loss is expected to reach 9,037 million litres per day (MLD) from non-revenue water (NRW).

National Water Services Commission (SPAN) Corporate Communications and Consumer Affairs Unit director Mohd Fazil Ismail said NRW refers to treated water supplied into the distribution system that is 'lost' or does not generate revenue for water operators.

He stated that the country's losses will rise from RM2.32 billion in 2023 to RM4.05 billion by 2030 if proactive measures are not taken to address NRW.

"If NRW is not managed properly, it will lead to increased NRW rates, resulting in waste and losses for the country. SPAN projects that water loss could rise to 9,037 MLD, leading to an estimated loss of RM4.05 billion by 2030 without action to reduce NRW," he told Harian Metro.

Mohd Fazil noted that this situation has various implications, including unsustainable water supply and a negative impact on the ability to provide water to users, industries, and water operators nationwide.

"The uncontrolled NRW issue will cause users to experience inadequate supply, service disruptions due to low water pressure, frequent repairs of ageing pipes, and water quality problems due to prolonged leaks that expose water to contamination," he explained.

"Additionally, water operators will suffer losses in revenue due to unbilled water, increased operational costs for treated water, and rising capital expenditures for constructing new treatment plants due to the need to upgrade existing facilities to meet increasing water demand and reduce reserve margins."

He said this would lead to greater use of new water resources and contribute to climate change, as NRW increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In addition to the National NRW Reduction Programme (2021-2025), SPAN is also focused on improving management of NRW.

"SPAN has established NRW as a key performance indicator (KPI) in operators' business plans, set guidelines on NRW, conducted audits of water operators' NRW operations, and enforced measures against water theft in collaboration with water operators.

"SPAN also ensures that all equipment, devices, materials, systems, and facilities meet recognised standards to minimise the likelihood of leaks or breaks.

"To strengthen human capital and workforce competency, SPAN is collaborating with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and the Department of Skills Development (JPK) to develop National Occupational Skills Standards and NRW training modules to cultivate a skilled and competent workforce in NRW management," he added.

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