PM: Getting raw water a trial

Weather changes and polluted rivers affecting supply

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is facing a challenge securing enough raw water despite an abundance of rivers, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

This is due to the unpredictable changes in rainfall patterns, and the influx of pollutants into rivers which in turn reduce the quality of raw water drawn from the rivers, said the Prime Minister at a ceremony marking the successful completion of the Pantai 2 Sewage Treatment Plant (STP2) here yesterday.

Malaysia’s raw water supply comes mainly from the country’s 150 rivers, but these rivers are exposed to pollution from untreated or insufficiently treated industrial, agricultural and household effluents.

While water treatment plants can remove the bulk of contaminants, this is a costly process, and there are also many occasions where even the best treatment plant cannot cope when the river is grossly polluted.

“As such, the commitment from all parties to treat wastewater properly is very important to ensure that our water sources are protected,” he said.

Najib added that the Government viewed water supply security seriously, and plans to build 77 sewage treatment plants by 2040 at a total cost of RM52bil. To date, it has built 46 plants throughout the country.

Najib said that STP2 is Asia Pacific’s biggest sewage treatment plant – other than being Malaysia’s first fully underground sewage treatment plant – with the capacity to treat wastewater generated from 1.4 million residents in Pantai and other areas in the Klang Valley.

The original Pantai sewage treatment plant was built in 1958 to serve a population of 527,000, and was upgraded several times.

The STP2 project is an innovative upgrade of the existing aerated lagoon sewage treatment facility into an automated underground sewage treatment plant with public amenities on top of it.

The underground plant allowed the construction of the Pantai Eco Park, a 12ha recreational and sports facility.

The plant also generates biogas from sewage effluents, which is then burned in gas engines to produce electricity. And the treated effluents from the plant are pure enough to be used for landscaping and gardening needs.

STP2 is already running, while the Pantai Eco Park will be opened to the public soon, said Najib, who added that STP2 will change perception that sewage treatment plants are dirty and foul-smelling eyesores.

“Today, we are all gathered at a plant which is modern, clean and an innovation which the Government has invested in for the people’s well-being.”