Indigenous wisdom key to strengthening river conservation effort, says Santiago

 

National Water Services Commission chairman Charles Santiago called for Putrajaya to implement a zero discharge policy with industries mandated to recycle and reuse wastewater.

PETALING JAYA: 

Integrating indigenous knowledge into river management is crucial for strengthening the protection of this resource, says National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago.

He said recognising the indigenous people’s wisdom and adopting practices that protect ecosystems not only enhance environmental conservation but also uphold cultural heritage.

Indigenous communities have long understood the spiritual and ecological importance of rivers,

 he said at the Asia International Water Week in Beijing, China, today.

He also highlighted the growing global movement calling for rivers to be granted personhood, a concept gaining traction in countries like New Zealand, Canada, Colombia and Bangladesh.

The Whanganui River in New Zealand was the first in the world to be granted environmental personhood status in 2017.

Santiago said legal personhood confers rivers the right to be protected from exploitation and pollution, thus aligning with indigenous values that view rivers as living entities.

To safeguard Malaysia’s river systems, he called for Putrajaya to implement a zero discharge policy where industries are mandated to recycle and reuse wastewater instead of discharging it into rivers.

Any discharge into the rivers will result in a fine. This approach minimises pollution and promotes more efficient water use,

 Santiago said, adding that Selangor has such a policy in place to address pollution.

As this policy expands, industries must be held accountable through stricter enforcement and financial penalties for non-compliance, ensuring long-term water security and cleaner rivers nationwide.

He also said Malaysia should introduce a water conservation surcharge to promote prudent water use.

To streamline river governance, countries should establish federal agencies to oversee river management based on a basin approach, similar to Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin Authority, he said.

Santiago also proposed that countries adopt innovative strategies to secure water supply for future generations, such as promoting rainwater harvesting as an alternative water resource.

The former Klang MP said water footprinting education must also become a key component of public awareness campaigns.

He gave the example of how producing a pair of jeans can consume 10,000 litres of water, while 140 litres of water goes into the making of a single packet of coffee.

Santiago also called for people to reduce water consumption and suggested using reclaimed water for economic activities, such as construction, agriculture and other industries. - FMT