PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 23rd AUGUST 2011 (TUESDAY)
WSIA 2006 WILL ENSURE CLEAN AND CONTINUOUS WATER SUPPLY FOR KELANTANESE
Complaints about unsatisfactory water services have led Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER) to conduct field investigations to outline the condition of water services in Kelantan. Feedbacks were obtained from Kuala Krai, Temangan, Kota Bharu, Machang, Pasir Puteh, Jeli, Bachok, and Tanah Merah in Kelantan.
Some of the cases highlighted are:
(i) No water supply connection
(ii) Metered connection is available but there is no water supply
(iii) frequent disruption (unscheduled)
(iv) ‘dirty’ water supply / murky water / coloured water
(v) water supply with smell and many more.
During our feedback sessions, the public also reiterated that they are willing to pay for the water bill as long as they can get clean water supply. AWER has collected information to estimate the cost for the public in Kelantan to develop own simple water supply system to obtain source of water to meet their basic needs. Most of the systems are groundwater based. Some of the cost estimations are as following:
(i) TUBEWELL – are pipe tubes placed vertically deep in soil through ‘boring’ process
Initial investment for a 100 feet tubewell is close to RM 1400 for boring process and the tube pipe. The cost of boring 1 feet is about RM 10. Tube pipe cost is separately charged.
(ii) WELL – conventional groundwater use
For this system, the cost is calculated based on the precast concrete rings. The labour cost to place each concrete ring is about RM 30 and the concrete ring costs between RM 25 hingga RM 30 each. If 10 concrete rings are placed, the cost will be around RM 600.
(iii) WATER PUMPS (Known as Engine in Kelantan) – to abstract water from the well
The electrical pump cost between RM 300 hingga RM 500 and usually 2 to 3 pumps are used to abstract water from wells. The monthly electricity cost for the pumps are estimated between RM 10 hingga RM 20 monthly based on public feedback.
Once the public complete the well construction, if the dug well or tubewell does not have any groundwater source or with water source that is too murky, the entire expenditure to construct the well will go down the drain and they are forced to reinvest again. For those whom do not have any other alternative, expensive water filters are the choice. Cost of the water filters can be anything above RM 2000. The maintenance cost of these filters will be high due to poor quality of water.
Based on current water tariff in Kelantan, the monthly water bill for a family of 4 members is around RM 8.00 if their water consumption is about 20 cubic meter (m3). Even if we estimate the particular family consume 30 cubic meter (m3) of water monthly, the total cost is just about RM 15.50. This cost is way low compared to all the expenditures that need to be incurred by the public to develop their own water supply system.
For the areas which are closer to hills, public usually use the spring water as source of water. In Kuala Krai, there was feedback that there is threat of Leptospirosis from the river water. This acute infectious disease is commonly known as Rat Urine Disease which can cause death if there is no early treatment. However, this group of people is risking their lives just to get water!
Based on the 2008 Auditor General report, the drinking water quality for Kelantan was classified as not satisfactory along with Pahang, Perlis and Sabah. In addition to that, all our recent feedbacks indicate that the public in Kelantan are not satisfied with the water quality that is being supplied. This is mainly due to coloured and smelly water supply as well as no water supply at all.
According to Malaysia Water Industry Guide 2011, average population served with water supply in Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan for year 2010 are 79.0%, 93.3% and 57.0% respectively. This means the state of Kelantan has the worst water services coverage in Malaysia. In premises with coverage, availability of water supply is another issue.
In April this year, a copy of “National Water Services Industry Restructuring – The Truth” report by AWER was given to all state assemblymen in Kelantan as well as all the other states’ assemblymen. AWER urges the state government of Kelantan
to consider migrating to Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA) regime in a faster pace. The financial model and regulation model in WSIA will ensure quality of water services is improved and serve the people of Kelantan better. It was also acknowledged that the state government did highlight that there was no federal funding for water services in the past. But WSIA regime is already in place now and there is ample of financial assistance to revive the water services industry in Kelantan. We hope that the state assembly will decide to migrate to WSIA regime as soon as possible to improve the quality of life for the people of Kelantan.
In addition to that, the other states that still have not transferred to WSIA regime are Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu and Labuan. AWER is also urging the states governments of Sabah and Sarawak to consider joining WSIA regime to protect water services sector with the total interest of people. Members of public can read the report at our website www.awer.org.my to understand more about the benefits of Water Services Industry Restructuring.
PIARAPAKARAN S., President, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER)
