Let’s look at water conservation efforts seriously

MP SPEAKS All I said was that the Selangor state government needs a special committee headed by the Menteri Besar, Azmin Ali, to look at sustainable water conservation efforts.

And then I backed my recommendations with calculations and numbers about the fast-dropping water levels at the Sungai Selangor and Semenyih dams.

One day later, Elizabeth Wong, who is Selangor tourism, environment, green technology and consumer affairs committee chairperson, goes ballistic.

Wong went on to unnecessarily attack me in the media, accusing me of wild allegations based on inaccurate calculations.

According to her, Selangor is well-prepared to ride out the prolonged dry spell.

But the Selangor state government is focusing on supply management and not demand management or conservation.

How can this observation be so wrong?

Water levels in the Sungai Selangor and Semenyih dams are fast depleting at a daily average of 0.62 percent and 0.47 percent respectively.

Conservation approaches are therefore urgent given that the country may face hot spells up to the middle of the year and this coincides with the fasting month that starts on the first week of June.

The Selangor state government must put in place strategies for conservation, such as educating people, businesses and government agencies to use less water and reduce leakages. For example, the people must be advised to reduce the number of car washes.

It must set up a target of 25 percent reduction in water consumption from the present 232 litres per day to 175, in line with the Asean average, and then to 150 litres per day, which is the global standard.

Water auditors must be appointed by the state to play the vital role of agents to identify leaks, overuse, wastage and embark on a paradigm shift from consuming like there is no tomorrow to efficiency, to prevent a water crisis.

It is true that Negri Sembilan, Penang, Perlis and Johor are facing severe water shortage issues. But just like these states, Selangor has also been forewarned of the consequences of El Nino.

Comprehensive conservation strategy

As such, I would like to think that Selangor would initiate and roll out a comprehensive conservation strategy that can be followed by the other states.

Making recommendations for leadership by example can't be all that wrong, can it?

Once again I reiterate that the Sungai Selangor dam will reach a critical level in 42 days if weather patterns persist.

The state government says it has enough water to weather El Nino.

But if the current weather situation is here to stay, can the state guarantee that the water level will not dip below 40 percent?

So, let's look at conservation efforts seriously instead of indulging in a turf war.

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CHARLES SANTIAGO is Member of Parliament, Klang.