SPAH INITIATIVE TARGETS SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT, FUNCTION AS BACKUP - FADILLAH

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The introduction of the Rainwater Harvesting System (SPAH) under the National Water Resources Policy and Water Sector Transformation 2040 agenda aims to support more sustainable water management, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

The Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) added that the initiative can also reduce the demand for treated water, function as a backup during disruptions, and use less energy compared to conventional sources.

“In line with a strategy for sustainable and resilient water resource management, the ministry, through the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), has implemented several key interventions to mainstream the use of SPAH across communities, government premises and the private sector,” he said during an oral question-and-answer session in Dewan Negara today.

He was responding to a question from Senator Datuk Rosni Sohar regarding the ministry's strategic plan to utilise the potential of rainwater as a supply source during the dry season.

Fadillah cited as an example the NAHRIM Tank Software 2.0, developed in 2021, which provides online simulations to determine the optimal SPAH tank size and assess its storage efficiency and potential water savings.

Additionally, he said a master plan study for a Conjunctive Water Supply System in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur was also conducted in 2017 to identify the potential of alternative water sources in urban areas.

He noted that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government enacted a 2011 amendment to the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 to implement SPAH in buildings, a measure subsequently adopted by 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia.

"There are 16 physical SPAH projects at government and private premises, residences and communities, including commercial buildings since 2001, covering the installation of tanks, retention ponds, and Internet of Things (IoT) systems for monitoring. Overall, these projects have served more than 1,000 consumers," he said.

He said NAHRIM research shows the system has a direct impact on reducing urban flash flood risk, and that its effective application could also save up to 30 percent of treated water usage.

He explained that a study in Taman Wangsa Melawati showed that it can reduce peak rainwater flow or discharge by between 10 and 20 percent.

Meanwhile, a study in the Sungai Damansara Basin found that the widespread adoption of SPAH could lower the extent of flooding by between 35 and 50 percent, depending on storage capacity. 

"PETRA will continue to evaluate the initiative’s effectiveness through impact studies from pilot projects that upgrade flood retention ponds for water supply, and through consumer acceptance studies," he said.

Responding to a supplementary question from Rosni on whether there are plans to provide subsidies, financial support, or tax incentives to encourage more households to install SPAH, Fadillah said the proposal would be discussed with the Ministry of Finance.

He said all new SPAH projects will involve installing rainwater storage tanks for conservation, stressing that this water is for non-potable uses like watering plants and washing cars.

"Rainwater catchment prevents runoff, which helps reduce flooding and lowers the overall risk, particularly in urban areas," he concluded. 

-- BERNAMA