Hot and dry weather spells have been scorching the Klang Valley for the past month with a maximum temperature of 34 degree Celsius.

We are fortunate, however, as it cools down with heavy showers in the evenings on many days.

The latest statistics as of today on the Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (Luas) website showed that the Sungai Selangor dam, which supplies about 60 percent of raw water throughout Klang Valley, is now at 67.66 percent or at 155.62 cubic metres, less than recorded in the previous month of March.

Although we do not hear news of water rationing plans, this does not mean precautions should not be taken.

Many of us who reside in the Klang Valley would still have a vivid memory of our bitter experience of the water crisis in 2014 with water rationing lasting over two months and affecting over 2.2 million consumers based on projection reported by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas).

On this Earth Day (April 22), as the earth's temperature rises and its climate changes not for the better, let us reflect on water, a precious yet unlimited resource that is critical for our survival but often goes unappreciated.

Earth Day, a worldwide annual event was initiated in 1970 to demonstrate support for environmental protection, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated worldwide in more than 192 countries each year.

The fight for a healthy liveable environment continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more manifest gradually but surely.

Availability of adequate water resources that we derive primarily from rainwater, will be an issue as rainfall patterns are changing both temporally and spatially as a consequence of climate change.

Due to the low rates of treated water in Malaysia, we have developed a casual attitude about the water we use, and more often than not, that attitude has led to unnecessary wastage and pollution of water resources.

Long before water was accessible from the simple turning of a tap, people had to access rivers for their daily water needs.

'Water's key role'

From the moment we open our eyes in the morning, water plays an important role in our well-being.

From the shower we take, to the coffee we brew in the morning, even the clothes that we wear for the day is the product of water consumption.

Water is so intensively used that a significant world’s populations lack adequate water for drinking, sanitation, agricultural and other uses. In fact, 1.2 billion people currently live in areas with insufficient water.

In Malaysia generally and possibly in many other countries too, the society has a misconception there is plenty of consumable water to go around for everyone.

This is far from the truth. Our planet’s water is 97 percent salty and two percent snow and ice. This leaves less than one percent for us to access, and 70 percent of that one percent is already used for agriculture.

Additionally, river pollution caused by indiscriminate waste disposal and effluent discharge also adds pressure to our water resources which may render the water becoming untreatable in some cases hence unsuitable for human consumption.

Forested water catchments also have an influence on the quantity rate and quality of water which flows into streams and rivers therefore loss of forest areas in water catchment may increase the risks of water scarcity.

To ensure water security and avoid recurrence of more water crisis that will not only cause adversity to the society but also cripple the country’s economy and progress, WWF-Malaysia urges everybody to jointly take action and get involved.

Consumers should be responsible and prudent in using water and strive to reduce water wastage.

Businesses should implement green practices that include becoming more efficient within their operations in terms of water use and managing waste and effluents to prevent pollution of water bodies.

The authorities should assess and strengthen the integrated management of our water resources, rivers and water catchments with public and private sector participation, in addition to revising our water-tariff structure to better reflect the cost aspects of producing and supplying as well as the importance and scarcity value of this precious resource.  

On this Earth Day, let us start by doing our part for nature and the environment to ensure a water-secure future for our own benefit and that of our future generation.

DIONYSIUS SK SHARMA is executive director/CEO of WWF-Malaysia.