MIRI: Preserve water and avoid wastage of water in daily use.

Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui who came out with the advice said the per capita consumption of water in Malaysia is among the highest as compared with her neighbouring countries Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

Up till now the government has provided over 90 water catchment areas in the state to accommodate the rising population and high water treatment consumption in big cities.

“Thus to cater to the high demand for treated water, the government has taken the initiative to gazette more of water catchment areas in the states as to prevent shortages of water sources in the future,” he pointed out.

Chin, who is also Miri MP, said this during Youth Forum – The Greater Miri 2020 held at Miri Library Sunday evening.

According to him, the cost of water treatment is high although many people would say that water is free in the world, and many question on why consumers have to pay much for it.

“It is true that water is one of the natural resources in the world. However, to have clean water for daily consumption which needs to be treated in the water treatment plant, makes it costly,” he pointed out.

More over, he said that the ministry took serious concern regarding the preservation of water catchment areas.

Plantations, especially involving the use of pesticides and chemical substances are prohibited in these areas, and if found, the ministry would impose a steep compound on the culprit.

“This is because the use of pesticide or chemical substances on any agri-cultural activity will flow into the water catchment areas thus will pollute the water, at the same time it incurs high cost of operation for water treatment,” he added.

Meanwhile, to-date the state government has provided more than 90 areas water catchment system to ensure treated water supply could accommodate the daily consumption of the populace.

At the same time, he advised Miri population that it would easily amount to about 300,000 to be water preserving and avoid the wastage of water in daily use.

“We should consume water accordingly as to avoid wastage of resources at the same time to support water preserving campaign in conjunction with the World Water Day 2011,” he pointed out.

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