KUALA LUMPUR: In the near future, there will be a law requiring Malaysians to use less water in the bathroom and when washing dishes or clothes.
This is because a proposed law is being drafted by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) to make labelling and the use of water-efficient devices mandatory.
“We hope to finalise the law, which is about 80% complete, by this year,” SPAN executive director (water regulatory department) Marzuki Mohammad told reporters after a demonstration of the use of water-efficient tap heads under a pilot project at Masjid Bandar Tun Hussein Onn yesterday.
He said that engagement is still needed among stakeholders, industry players and non-governmental bodies before the proposed law is tabled in Parliament.
At present, he said, there are no laws to compel manufacturers to label their products under the Water-Efficient Products Labelling Scheme introduced by SPAN in late 2016.
“With the law, manufacturers of products such as bathroom fittings and washing machines must label their products according to a three-star rating (system).
“A one-star product uses or dispenses between six and eight litres of water per minute, a two-star product between four and six litres while a three-star product between 1.5 and four litres,” he explained.
He said the proposed law will also compel developers to install water-efficient fittings for their new projects.
However, he said it will take time for the law to be fully implemented once it is passed.
“Even with the law, we will have to give time to educate all parties to make the transition from voluntary to mandatory (labelling and use of water-efficient devices).
“For example, it took Singapore about 10 years to do so,” he said.
Based on an audit carried out on five schools by SPAN, Marzuki said water usage could be reduced between 30% and 50% in a month through water-efficient fittings.
“Selangor uses about five million litres of treated water a day.
“If we can save only 10%, that would mean saving up to 500,000 litres of water a day,” he added.
For the moment, Marzuki said SPAN, through the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry, will propose that all new government projects involving schools, offices and public amenities be equipped with water-efficient fittings.
“We hope to complete the drafting of the proposal in a month or two for it to be presented to the Cabinet,” he added.
Besides Masjid Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Marzuki said SPAN had installed water-efficient tap heads in Masjid As-Salam in Puchong and Masjid Jamek Sultan Hisamuddin in Sepang used for ablution before prayers.
The pilot project, he said, had shown that the usage of water for ablution was reduced by 68%.
“With the old tap heads, worshippers used between six and 11 litres of water between 30 and 60 seconds when washing before prayers.
“With the three-star water-efficient tap heads, they use between 2.5 and five litres between 50 and 120 seconds,” he added.
The Star has previously highlighted that the average Malaysian uses between 220 and 240 litres of water a day, which is at least 32% more than the 150 litres recommended by the United Nations.- Star
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