It is more cost efficient to build the Langat 2 water treatment plant than to reduce water loss in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya by 10 per cent, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry water sector senior division secretary Sutekno Ahmadbelon.
He said it would cost RM7.2bil to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) from 32.3 per cent to 20.8 per cent, which would only provide an extra 500 million litres per day (MLD).
In contrast, the total cost of the raw water transfer from Sungai Pahang and the Langat 2 water treatment plant would cost RM8.9bil with a capacity of 1.13 billion MLD, he said.
“The Selangor state goverment always says that there is enough water in Selangor and it is just poor management which failed to reduce NRW.
It said it is cheaper to reduce NRW to increase water supply,” he told a water forum organised by the ministry on Thursday.
Sutekno said that the state government’s suggestion to transfer water from Tasik Kenyir rather than Sungai Pahang because it was cheaper was not true as the cost to just lay the pipes along the gas reserve pipeline from Tasik Kenyir to Langat would cost RM11.3bil.
“The distance is more than 500km, and we have not taken into account the cost of the pump stations and operational expenditure,” he said.
Syabas chief operating officer Datuk Lee Miang Koi said the water concessionaire could not address the NRW problem as its capital expenditure (capex) had been frozen by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
“The funds are needed for development and upgrading works, asset management and replacement programmes, NRW, water treatment plant works, land matters, and work-in-progress,” he said.
Between 2005 and 2008, Syabas had proposed capex of RM2.04bil but only RM1.8bil was approved by Selangor Water Regulation Department (JKAS).
The amount was reduced further between 2009 and 2011, where RM2.28bil was proposed but RM330mil was approved by SPAN. Another RM2.33bil was proposed for works between 2012 and 2014, but SPAN only approved RM190mil.
“Since 2009, only RM520mil of capex was approved by SPAN when we applied for RM4.61bil,” he said.
Despite the limitations, he said Syabas managed to reduce the NRW rate from 42.78 per cent in 2005 to 33.17 per cent in 2008,” he said, adding that the current NRW rate is now 32.31 per cent.
