The Penang state government wishes to assures investors, tourists, the business community and residents unequivocally that the directive of “no water rationing” in Penang is a top priority. Therefore the state government would adopt every measure possible to conserve our water resources, including increasing domestic water tariffs for the first time since 1993, to avoid water rationing.
The statement by Penang Water Supply Corporation(PBAPP) General Manager Jaseni Maidinsa on Sunday that Penang may still face water rationing because of lower than expected rainfall this month is unacceptable. Ir. Jaseni cited three key reasons for this:
- Less rainfall in April 2014 when compared to the past average;
- The level of Sungai Muda and the effective capacities of Penang’s three main dams have not fully “recovered” yet; and
- Penang’s per capita domestic consumption, at 311 l/c/d, is at an all-time high due to the lowest water tariff in Malaysia.
As the state government is willing to “bite the bullet” by allowing water tariffs to rise, Jaseni has been informed that heads will roll if water rationing has still got to be imposed. The state government agrees with Jaseni’s that there is no rationing in Penang because PBAPP has been managing water supply in Penang efficiently with water loss calculated in terms of Non-Revenue Water at 17.6%, the lowest in Malaysia compared to the national average of 36.4%.
Jaseni added that it is not right, nor sustainable, for Penangites to use 311 liters/capita/day when other states are undergoing water rationing. Jaseni is correct because Penang’s water usage is 50% above the national average of 212 l/c/d. Singapore uses 151 whilst the United Nation’s recommendation is 100.
In making conserving water resources a priority, such high water usage in Penang is not sustainable during a prolonged drought and must be reduced through increasing water tariffs. I would like to admit that almost all the genuine NGOs have been criticising the state government since 2008 for not carrying out the water tariff hike earlier.
Finally, I wish to correct the misreporting by the mainstream media of my response to the proposed quantum of domestic water tariff hike by President of Water Watch Penang Prof Chan Ngai Weng of Universiti Sains Malaysia. Professor Chan proposed that the domestic water tariff hike should not touch the first 20 m3 of water consumed, but increase sharply when people use more than this amount (an amount considered adequate for an average family) as follows:-
- 0-20 m3 = 22 sen/m3 (No change in tariff);
- 21-30 m3 = 80 sen/m3 (at production cost);
- 31-40 m3 = RM1.30/m3 (double the cost of production); and thereafter, every additional 10m3 consumption will see tariffs doubling.
I had replied that such a proposed 200-300% water tariff hike by Professor Chan would be too drastic and the state government will disappoint him. The state government will ensure that the new water tariff structure can reduce water usage but will not overburden the poor nor penalise conscientious water users.
In adopting the PBAPP management’s proposals to increase water tariff hike, PBAPP must reciprocate by not even entertaining the possibility of having to impose water rationing. I reiterate that Penang will not have water rationing.