'Raise water price to cap consumption'

Rabiatul Kamit
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

AS BRUNEI comes to terms with its staggering water usage, a leading water expert yesterday called on policymakers to increase water prices in a move to encourage more sustainable water consumption.

"If you want to look after your water resources, there is no other choice but to put a price on water," said Professor Asit K Biswas in a seminar on "Water as an Engine for Social and Economic Development" at the Ministry of Development Training Centre.

At 450 litres per capita, equivalent to 300 1.5-litre bottles of water, the Sultanate's daily water usage is one of the highest in the world and about twice that of those in neighbouring countries.

Professor Biswas, who has advised more than 20 governments and organisations, painted a grim picture of reality should Bruneians fail to address their exceedingly high water usage. He anticipated water consumption and wastage to rise, while the cost of water treatment is expected to escalate.

"The cost of treating clean water in 2035 will be very different to what it is today. What is considered safe now is not going to be considered safe in 2035," he remarked.

Citing the successful transformation of water management system in the capital of Cambodia, Professor Biswas explained the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) developed an urban water supply system that is "one of the best in the world" following the introduction of water meters in the 1990s.

"They have done nothing revolutionary except improve their water management system by charging for usage. Now people from all over the world are flocking to Phnom Penh to learn from them," he said.

The expert advised policymakers in Brunei to take note of PPWSA's dramatic turnaround, adding that the Sultanate has several advantages as a latecomer to water conservation. "You can use approaches that have proven to be successful elsewhere and avoid those that are inefficient," he commented.

When considering the pricing of water usage, he underscored that water tariffs should not penalise poorer households. In Phnom Penh, the poorest communities receive subsidised tariffs.

Professor Biswas, who is also founder of the Third World Centre for Water Management in Mexico, noted, however, the move to increasing water prices is a "very difficult" process that should be undertaken with long-term planning.

"It won't happen overnight, which is why you have to start now," he said, estimating the timeframe of such initiatives to take up to a decade.

In addition to higher water pricing, he also advocated the integration of water, energy and food sectors in policymaking. Although natural resources are closely interconnected, Professor Biswas shared there was an inherent crisis in the management across the three sectors.

"There is not a single country in the world that has a water policy taking into account energy policy and vice-versa, yet we can't develop one sector without the other. They see each other as rivals," he said.

According to the expert, Brunei's relatively small population of 400,000 people is an advantage to local policymakers in water, energy and food sectors, allowing them to coordinate sustainable management in ways that are unlikely for many countries with a bigger population.

Professor Biswas, who is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore, also highlighted the crucial role of public education in water conservation initiatives.

Although awareness should be targeted at all levels of society, he said it was equally important to engage the younger generation in efforts to promote sustainable development. He was mostly impressed by public education initiatives in Japan, where interactive water demonstrations were used.

"The school kids are fascinated with the technology in these water demonstrations. It was found to be an effective tool for teaching water conservation," he said.

Offering a positive outlook on the global water crisis, Professor Biswas believed the world's water problems are "all solvable even under difficult situations" provided that water resources are managed efficiently.

Present at the seminar were the Permanent Secretary of Technical and Professional Department Dato Paduka Hj Suhaimi Hj Gafar and Director General of Public Works Department Hj Marzuke Hj Mohsin.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times


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