There will be no increase in water tariffs to ensure that Penang enjoys the lowest rates in the country, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has assured the people.

lim guan eng at asli debate 200212 01 However, he warned, the water conservation surcharge may be increased if there is no further significant reduction in water consumption.

Lim urged Penangites to use water more wisely at home as billions of ringgit are required to build new intakes, dams, reservoirs and pumping stations, including the laying additional pipelines.

Despite a six litre per capita drop to 285 litres per capita a day (lcd) in domestic water consumption in 2011, Penang was far behind the national average consumption of 203 lcd.

In 2010, the state's per capita domestic consumption was 291 lcd as compared with the national average of 203.

"For the first time in nine years, Penang has recorded a drop in domestic water consumption," Lim, who is Penang Water Authority (PWA) chairperson, said in a statement.

NGOs say Penangites do not value water

"As a a water-stressed state with the highest per capita domestic consumption in Malaysia in 2010, Penang desperately needs to cut down on water wastage and water consumption," he added.

Lim said NGOs had said that Penang sees the highest water consumption because Penangites enjoy the lowest water tariffs and do not value water.

Penang's domestic water tariff at an average of RM0.31 per 1,000 litres for the first 35,000 litres per month is also the lowest in Malaysia.

He said PWA subsidised RM 58.9 million last year to ensure that Penang enjoyed the lowest water tariffs in Malaysia.

"There was 100 percent urban supply coverage and 99.7 percent rural supply coverage in Penang last year," he said.

He also admitted that NGOs had severely criticised the state government for refusing to increase water tariffs and had dismissed the water conservation surcharge imposed on those who waste water as "grossly inadequate".

"While accepting the criticisms by the NGOs that the water tariffs and the surcharge are too low and inadequate, the drop of a mere six litres per person per day is still significant because this is the first reduction in per capita domestic consumption since 2004," the chief minister added.

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