Water Pollution - Malaysia

Water pollution is a serious problem in Malaysia. It reduces total water availability considerably. Cost of treating polluted waters increases and some polluted waters are not treatable for human consumption. Urbanization within our river catchments gives rise to an increase in population and urban life activities. 

Land development increases run-off  within  a  catchment,  which  in  turn  affects  the  water  quality  of  receiving  waters. Rainfall in urbanized areas washes down contaminants accumulated on land surfaces into storm water facilities. 

The main point sources identified are household sullage, sewage treatment plant and industrial area. Besides these, there are other point sources polluting the river basin such as market, restaurant, workshop, resi-dential area, solid waste disposal sites, soil and sand sourcing, new development area, aquaculture, com-mercial lots, petrol station, livestock and others.

The Department of Environment (DOE) maintains records of point sources. In 2008, it was recorded that that there were 17,633 water pollution point sources in Malaysia. These point sources comprised sewage treatment plants (inclusive of network pump stations), manufacturing industries, animal farms and agro-based industries.

Malaysia is blessed with abundant amount of water. The annual surface runoff of Malaysia amount to around 566 billion m3 and some 64 billion m3 are being recharged as groundwater. The surface runoffs or rivers are the major source of water in Malaysia (97%) with around 100 river systems running in Peninsular and 50 in Sabah and Sarawak. 

According to DOE’s Environmental Quality Report 2012, out of 473 rivers monitored under the river water quality monitoring programme, only 278 (59%) of river were found to be clean. The rest were either categorised as slightly polluted (34%) or polluted (7%).

The sources for suspended solids are from improper earthworks and land clearing. Out of the 34 polluted river identified in the report, 19 were classified as Class III, 14 as Class IV, and 1 as Class V.

As discussed earlier, population growth along with agricultural and industrial development is putting a strain on the water supply system. Furthermore, the weak policy and implementation of programmes and activities to protect river basins in the country further threatens the raw water (source) security of the nation. 

There is nowhere in any Malaysian law that the provides clear definition of a river basin allowing developers and other parties (both government and non-government) having a field day in opening up catchment areas for development, thus jeopardising raw water security. 

Current water resource management often neglects river basin management and its protection. There are however some (commendable) efforts undertaken by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

By analysing report from many agencies such as the Drainage and Irrigation Department, National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), the Meteorology Department, Department of Environment, Malaysian Water Industry Guide and many more we can conclude that there is sufficient downpour (surface flow) to cater for the anticipated population in Malaysia come year 2050 – many times more!

DAMS AND STP SITING
We are blessed with approximately 150 rivers and 25000 cubic metres of renewable water per capita per year . The problem lies in ensuring that some dry regions also have sufficient renewable water for consumption. This is where dams come in to address this problem but finding suitable sites for the dams and water basins were an issue to address problems in water stress areas.

ECONOMIC ISSUES
As many in the water sector already know, the water supply industry is a capital intensive industry and according to UN reports and reports from Transparency International (TI), the chief of all problems faced by water sectors in developing countries is the systemic issues of transparency and accountability ensuing the procurement processes and performance of the sectors .

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
According to a paper published in the Academic Journal of Science, 2012  - In Malaysia there are 261 landfill sites where 111numbers of them had been closed leaving only 150 still operating. Out of this, about 17unsanitary landfills had been closed and 32 will be upgraded into a complete sanitary landfill.

Some statistics says that less than 10% of the operational landfills sites classified to be sanitary while the rests are open dump or unsanitary landfills further contributing to surface and groundwater contamination in Malaysia.