Bruneians still top water use in SE Asia

Rachel Thien
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

BRUNEIANS still consume the highest amount of water compared to citizens in other ASEAN member states, officials from the Department of Water Services said.

An official from the department’s Water Conservation Unit, who did not want to be named, said Bruneians consume an average of 420 litres of water per day, which is equivalent to 280 of 1.5 litre water bottles.

In 2015, Malaysians used 212 litres of water per day, while Singapore residents consumed 151 litres of water in a day.

In an interview yesterday, he said taking a bath accounted for 52 per cent of an individual’s daily water consumption in Brunei.

He added that each drop of wasted water per second from a streaming tap equates to wasting four litres of water per day.

Another Department of Water Services official called on Bruneians to save water because it is not just about consumers saving money, but helping the government to spend less in producing clean and quality water to every household.

“Water is subsidised in Brunei. The question is not how much money a person can save by saving and conserving water.

“The key and important thing is by saving water, one can save the capital investment and cost of producing water which is borne entirely by the government,” she added.

In a previous report, the department said saving water will also help the government lessen expenditure of water treatment costs.

She recommended the public to install a rainwater harvesting system, where rainwater can be collected and reused for flushing toilets, general washing and irrigation.

The department said the rainwater harvesting system is currently being integrated at some houses at the Kg Katok National Housing Scheme.

The first part of the system that rain comes into contact with is the roof itself, she said.

“The roof is a critical component of the rainwater harvesting system and will define some of the other system components such as filtration,” she added.

The recommended roofing materials include the standing seam metal, ethylene propylene diene monomer slate or tile.

She went on to say that storage tanks for the collected water come in many shapes, sizes and materials, and they can be placed near the roof or at other locations.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Public told to save water to help gov’t lessen cost of treatment

Rachel Thien
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Department of Water Services is calling the public to reduce water consumption by adopting and nurturing good saving habits with expected prolonged dry weather conditions up to March.

This will also help the government lessen expenditure of water treatment costs, said an officer from the department yesterday.

“Water is subsidised in Brunei. The question is not how much money a person can save by saving and conserving water. The key and important thing is by saving water, one can save the capital investment and cost of producing water which is borne entirely by the government,” an officer at the department told The Brunei Times yesterday.

The officer who declined to be named, said the cost of water supply to the public is subsidised by the government, and by saving water, all can help to reduce the government’s expenditure in the operating and maintenance costs of water here.

“So by saving water, everyone is helping the government to achieve more efficient use of water and financial resources,’’ the officer said.

Although there is an abundance of raw water in Brunei, water treatment is a long and expensive process, the official said, although she was not able to disclose the amount spent annually by the government.

The official added operation and maintenance of continuous uninterrupted water supply is costly and challenging.

“Saving water is helping our government save money. So start with small steps and changes to nurture good habits in saving water,” the official said.

The department personnel added that for organisations, they should monitor water bills and leaks, and spread the message of water conservation and water saving to staff as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“Water is a precious resource, and saving water helps to preserve and protect our environment. Sustainability in the water supply is the key,” the civil servant said.

Some examples of how the public can adopt in terms of water saving habits, the officer said, are to reuse and recycle water, monitor their water bills and install a rain water harvesting device.

She added they can also reduce showering time to four minutes, turning off the water tap while brushing their teeth, and using water efficient devices such as half flushes. “Appreciate water, have ownership of it and value it,” she said.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Brunei has highest water usage rate in SE Asia

Ak Md Khairuddin Pg Harun
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

BRUNEI’S water usage is at 420-450 litres/day per person — the highest in Southeast Asia — said Acting Director of the Department of Water Services (DWS) yesterday.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, Alice Lim said Brunei had a sufficient supply of water because of the country’s developed water supplies infrastructure.

One of the reasons for Brunei’s high consumption of water was because of accessibility, she said.

After Brunei achieved independence in 1984, one of the targets set by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was to achieve the Millennium Development Goals to improving access to water, sanitation, power and sources of energy, said the acting director.

“After independence, His Majesty started work to achieve sufficient water supplies for the country. The development of infrastructure for water supplies kept ahead of population growth. That’s why we always have sufficient water supply,” she said.

She said that the government had taken initiatives to improve the water system infrastructure to cater the needs of the population.

The accessibility of water was also mentioned in a recent Friday sermon.

The sermon said that as water was easily accessible in Brunei it made Bruneians take it for granted and resort to using it excessively.

Asked about ways to conserve water, Lim urged members of the public to cooperate with the DWS especially when they encounter pipe leakages.

“Pipe leakages cannot be detected by the department alone, she said. They have to be reported by members of the public.”

She also encouraged members of the public to send in photos to the department when they encounter pipe bursts or leakages anywhere in Brunei regardless of how small they are.

“There is a shift in the mindset of the public on the importance of water now. People are concerned about water and I think our department has received a lot of public cooperation on this issue,” she said.

Today, Brunei is celebrating World Water Day to remind the public about the importance of conserving water as well as educating them on proper water usage.

According to the department’s website, the Public Works Department provides 99.9 per cent of potable water to the people of Brunei Darussalam (including 0.2 per cent of rural water supply).

DWS is responsible in overseeing the planning, design and managing the country’s water resources to ensure sustainability and adequate resources to meet future demand.

This includes protection and conserving the existing and future potential resources.

In case of water supply disruptions, she said that members of the public should contact the Darussalam Hotline 123.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

'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


Posting berkaitan:

1. 3 in 4 Asia-Pacific Nations Facing Water Security Threat - Study
2. Penggunaan air di negara ini antara tertinggi di dunia

Penggunaan air di negara ini antara tertinggi di dunia

Oleh: Dk. Vivy Malessa Pg. Ibrahim

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Selasa, 26 Mac. - Menteri Pembangunan, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman berkata, jumlah purata penggunaan air di negara ini ialah antara 400 hingga 450 liter bagi setiap seorang sehari, menyamai penggunaan lebih kurang setengah tangki yang digunakan di rumah.

Yang Berhormat menyatakan perkara itu semasa berucap pada Majlis Pelancaran Seminar Air Sempena Sambutan Hari Air Sedunia Tahun 2013 bertemakan 'Water Cooperation', berlangsung di Hotel Centrepoint, Gadong, di sini.

Menurut Menteri Pembangunan, jika dibandingkan dengan negara-negara lain, purata jumlah tersebut adalah dalam kalangan yang tertinggi di dunia, manakala negara-negara jiran yang terdekat mempunyai purata penggunaan sekitar 200 hingga 250 liter seorang sehari.

Yang Berhormat berkata, kesimpulannya secara purata penggunaan air dua kali ganda jika dibandingkan dengan negara-negara jiran.

Terdahulu Yang Berhormat menjelaskan, air merupakan sumber yang diperlukan bagi pelbagai kegunaan secara domestik, industri, pertanian dan alam sekitar.

"Pengurusan sumber air yang holistik dengan penglibatan semua pihak yang berkepentingan adalah sangat penting untuk memastikan sumber air dapat dimanfaatkan oleh semua pihak dengan berpatutan dan berdaya tahan serta bertepatan dengan tema sambutan Hari Air Sedunia pada tahun ini iaitu 'Water Cooperation', " ujar Yang Berhormat.

Di samping itu Yang Berhormat juga menyentuh mengenai lapan strategi yang telah dikenal pasti di dalam Wawasan Brunei 2035, termasuk menjamin dan menyediakan bekalan air yang berterusan seperti yang terkandung di dalam Strategi Infrastruktur.

Penyediaan infrastruktur yang berkualiti tinggi, katanya, adalah pelaburan awal yang sudah tentu akan memberikan pulangan yang tinggi di masa akan datang seperti memberikan keyakinan kepada pelabur (investor confidence) ke negara ini, potensi bagi memberikan peluang pekerjaan, 'spin-off economic potential' serta kualiti kehidupan yang tinggi kepada rakyat dan penduduk di negara ini.

Pada masa ini, jelas Yang Berhormat, infrastruktur bekalan air di negara ini dapat dianggap di tahap sangat baik dengan bekalan air bersih yang berterusan kepada 100 peratus penduduk di negara ini.

Kementerian Pembangunan melalui Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR), katanya, adalah komited untuk memperbaiki lagi sistem bekalan air tersebut secara berterusan.

"Pihak kerajaan telah membelanjakan beratus juta ringgit bagi menyediakan infrastruktur bekalan air di samping kos pengurusan dan pemeliharaan tahunan untuk menyediakan bekalan air yang bersih dan berkualiti yang telah sama-sama kita nikmati pada masa ini dan juga di masa akan datang," ujarnya.

Menyentuh usaha yang telah dirancang dan dilaksanakan bagi penggunaan air yang lebih mapan, Yang Berhormat menjelaskan, sebahagian besar dari inisiatif yang dirancang adalah berasaskan kepada kerjasama dalam kalangan pihak-pihak yang berkepentingan dan orang ramai, seperti mana juga yang ditekankan dalam tema sambutan Hari Air Sedunia 'Water Cooperation' iaitu Perlaksanaan Program 'Water Conservation Pledge' yang telah disertai oleh beberapa organisasi terdiri daripada agensi-agensi kerajaan dan pihak swasta mahupun individu-individu.

Inisiatif lain, tambahnya ialah Program tahunan 'Brunei Darussalam-Singapore Cooperation on Environment' termasuk program kerjasama JKR dengan Public Utility Board, Singapura yang dapat memberikan peluang untuk memajukan sumber tenaga manusia, perkongsian amalan terbaik dan penggunaan teknologi yang bersesuaian bagi meningkatkan efisiensi di dalam pengurusan air.

Selain itu, kata Yang Berhormat, ia juga termasuk Seminar Air Tahun 2013 yang menjemput pakar-pakar dari luar negeri untuk berkongsi amalan terbaik dan kepakaran di dalam menangani masalah-masalah pengurusan bekalan air di negara ini.

Dipetik dari - Pelita Brunei

3 in 4 Asia-Pacific Nations Facing Water Security Threat - Study

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – More than 75% of the countries in Asia and the Pacific are experiencing a serious lack of water security, with many of them facing an imminent water crisis unless immediate steps are taken to improve management of water resources, says a new study prepared jointly by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF).

“While the Asia-Pacific region has become an economic powerhouse, it is alarming that no developing country in the region can be considered ‘water-secure’,” said Bindu Lohani, ADB’s Vice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development. “Countries must urgently improve water governance through inspired leadership and creative policymaking.”

Asian Water Development Outlook 2013 provides the first quantitative and comprehensive analysis of water security on a country by country basis in the region. It examines all dimensions of water security from the household level to water-related disasters, and uses indicators and a scaling system to rank the progress of each of the 49 countries under assessment.

The study found that 37 developing countries in the region are either suffering from low levels of water security or have barely begun to engage in the essential task of improving water security. Twelve countries are shown to have established the infrastructure and management systems for water security, while no country in the region was found to have reached the highest model level of water security.

South Asia and parts of Central and West Asia are faring the worst, with rivers under immense strain, while many Pacific Islands suffer from a lack of access to safe piped water and decent sanitation and are highly vulnerable to increasingly severe natural disasters. By contrast East Asia, which has the highest frequency of hazards in the region, is relatively better off due to higher levels of investment in disaster defenses, but urban water security remains poor in many cities and towns.

The study highlights two stark realities ― sharply rising inequality in access to water and sanitation, and the increasingly precarious state of rivers. It presents options for measures that can be adopted to improve water security to mitigate the growing pressure from booming populations, urbanization, pollution, over-extraction of groundwater, climate change and other factors.

“Water supports health and livelihoods, grows our food, powers our industry, and cools our generating plants, and these different uses can no longer be seen in isolation from each other,” said Ravi Narayanan, Vice-Chair of the APWF Governing Council. “Unless these competing needs are balanced, water security will remain elusive, undermining development gains and the quality of life for billions of people in the region, especially the poor.”

Current levels of investment, coupled with outdated policies and institutions, have failed to deliver water security. The study highlights the importance of a more productive use of water, including greater recycling of ‘used water’. Corporatizing water utilities to improve their efficiency; increasing sanitation investment; encouraging more productive water use by food and energy producers; imposing more regulations on groundwater use; upgrading irrigation services; strengthening management of river basins; mobilizing more private sector investment to clean up rivers; and improving disaster risk management; are all essential for a more secure water future.

Dipetik dari - Asian Development Bank