SELANGOR IN HOT WATER OVER WATER CRISIS
THERE are many theories about the Selangor water crisis. But, there is only one cause: the low treated water reserve margin.
The Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer) has said this several times, but the Selangor government ignores this. A reserve margin is the extra distributable capacity after catering to current demand. A reserve margin will allow a treatment plant to cater to a sudden increase in the demand of water or unforeseen water shortage.
It is vital to ensure there is a sufficient reserve margin during scheduled (maintenance and pipe replacement) and unscheduled (low level of raw water, major pipe burst, raw water pollution and sudden breakdown) problems.
A reserve margin will reduce the impact of supply disruptions in affected areas, and speed up recovery after disruptions.
When the reserve margin is low, the recovery after disruption will be longer as the system needs to fill up the system’s reservoirs, meet existing and backlogged demand as well as cater to non-revenue water (NRW). A low reserve margin also causes low water pressure in some areas.
There are two ways to solve a low reserve margin. One is by building a new water treatment plant, and second is by reducing the loss of NRW.
Building a new water treatment plant is an immediate step.
Reducing NRW is a supporting solution, as a high rate of NRW means a loss of treated water.
How did we reach a low reserve margin? The Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA) was enforced by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) on Jan 1, 2008,
This requires the state government to adapt to the restructuring via the WSIA model.
Liabilities from the existing operation will be transferred to Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) via the restructuring.
PAAB is regulated by SPAN. New infrastructure will be funded via PAAB or other cheaper financing, if applicable.
But, the Selangor government did not agree to the restructuring plan until the 2014 water crisis, which kept 60 per cent of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya consumers on a water rationing plan for several months.
The Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant was scheduled to be completed by 2014, but has been delayed to next year.
This plant will produce 1,130 million litres (mld) of treated water per day and will add about 20 per cent reserve margin if operations had started in 2014.
The increase in demand of water in the Klang Valley is fake data as the demand increase is being suppressed.
On the other hand, NRW in Klang Valley is above 30 per cent, and when Langat 2 is fully operational by next year, the effective treated water that can be distributed will be around 790mld, after deducting a conservative NRW level.
The reserve margin after Langat 2 is operational will be 10 to 15 per cent, depending on NRW as well as demand increase. By 2021 or 2022, if NRW is above 25 per cent, we will reach a low reserve margin again.
Therefore, to ease the increase in demand beyond 2025, we need to tackle the loss of NRW.
Back to the recent explosion at the Sungai Selangor Phase 3 (SSP3) water treatment plant.
This plant is operating beyond its design capacity by 20 per cent since 2016.
Overload requires the treatment and supply system to be upgraded to cater to a higher treated water output.
Overloading will also speed up wear and tear, as well as increase maintenance cost.
The supporting systems need to be upgraded to ensure there is no system failure.
How do we solve the problem? Set up an independent committee to investigate the SSP3 incident. The Selangor government must swiftly conclude the restructuring process and follow through with the 30-year business plan.
Further delays will only cause more water disruptions as well as higher cost to tariffs.
Look at how Negri Sembilan and Melaka have improved their water treatment and supply after restructuring. The Selangor government should also play a more proactive role.
Do not point fingers. Deal with the problem.