Efforts to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) – water that has been produced but lost before it reaches consumers – can yield results if more states migrate to the National Water Services Commission’s (SPAN) new licensing regime.
Currently, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Penang are the only states that have done so.
SPAN chief executive officer Datuk Teo Yen Hua said the water services in these states had improved.
“The migration helps to transform the water services industry,” he said yesterday.
Under the new regime, funds allocated by the Federal Government through the Water Asset Management Company (PAAB) would be used for water supply development and infrastructure upgrades.
Teo said water leakages due to old pipes, old meters, under-registered water flow and illegal pipe connection were the reasons for the NRW.
“With the allocations, these shortcomings could be upgraded which, in turn, contribute significantly towards reducing the NRW.”
Teo said the NRW’s national average is 36 per cent, adding that the government aimed to go below 25 per cent by 2020. Penang’s rate is 19 per cent and Malacca’s 25 per cent.
“Negri Sembilan showed an improvement from 49 per cent in 2009 to 44.5 per cent this year,” he said.
