Water is our most fundamental natural source. It is also very limited. Earth has different sources of water, 96.5 percent is ocean and 2.5 percent is freshwater which includes groundwater and surface water. One percent of our freshwater is easily accessible and potable.

In Malaysia, supply of water faces a lot of challenges such as prolonged drought, water rationing, seasonal floods, water pollution, non-revenue water and impacts of climate change which require us to better manage our consumption of water. Some of the trends impacting secure water future are competing users, land use change, water shortage, floods and water pollution.

The issue faced by Malaysian recently is drought due to El Nino which will last until May or June of this year. According to a report, Chuping and Alor Setar recorded the highest temperature which is 39 degree Celsius.

According to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, rivers and water dams in almost all states in Malaysia reduced significantly due to this phenomenon. In Pasir Mas, Bukit Kwong dam reduced its level from 16.7 metres to 12.9 metres with a balance of only 14.3 percent in the dam. Water levels in most of rivers in Kuantan has also reduced such as Sungai Pahang, Sungai Kuantan, Sungai Jelai and Sungai Rompin.

Droughts have caused water disruption in most of the states in our country due to the reduced amount of water level. However, our water consumption also contributes to the decrease of water level in dams.

According to research, the average water consumption in Malaysia is 232 litres per capita per day and Penang recorded the highest water consumption which is 300 litres per capita per day. This amount has exceeded the limit recommended by World Health Organisation which is 150 litres per capita per day. It is time for us to take action to reduce water consumption.

By 2020 Malaysia has targeted to reduce water consumption from 232 litres per capita per day to 180 litres per capita per day. We can achieve the target if we follow some of water saving tips. There are many ways to reduce water consumption:

  • Shorten your showers to five minutes;
  • Install aerators with flow restrictors on all faucets;
  • Don’t clean the driveways or sidewalk with the hose, use a broom instead;
  • Replace old shower head with new low flow shower heads;
  • Rinse foods in a pan of water instead of washing through running water;
  • Launder your clothes in the least amount of water possible;
  • Use a washing machine only when it is fully loaded;
  • Place a weighted plastic bottle in the tanks of conventional toilets to save water with each flush;
  • While taking a bath, put in a stopper before turning on the water tap;
  • Install dual flush toilets.

More than 4 billion people in the world are facing water crisis. The water crisis will worsen due to pollution and climate change. Therefore, we need to change our behavior from wasting water to saving water. It might be difficult for a start but a simple effort like closing the tap while brushing teeth will already help to reduce the amount of water consumption.

NURUL NAIM RAZALI is research and policy executive, Water and Energy Consumers Associations of Malaysia.