SHAH ALAM: Corroborate statements that the Langat 2 water treatment plant hinges on flawed projection of water demand in Selangor.
This was the response of Green Technology, Energy and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui to a water expert's revelation that the Langat 2 plant hinges on inflated figures for future water demand in Selangor.
Speaking at the Selangor Water Forum 2012 yesterday, Coalition for Sustainable Water Management's Dr Lee Jin had said the projection for water demand per capita in Selangor in the National Water Resources Studies 2011 is inflated.
When contacted, Chin said Lee's statement should be verified by figures on the state's future demand, which are held by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas).
"If the projections are inflated, why aren't other water experts saying so?
"Our present demand and supply show we have a thin reserve margin between two and three per cent.
"That is the actual demand and supply figures we're concerned about," said Chin.
In the forum, Lee had said the high projection of water demand quoted in the report was largely contributed by percentages of Non--Revenue Water (NRW), or loss of water through the distribution process, which was accounted for twice in the report.
"The figures for water demand already consist of NRW through pilferage. But the report also showed that NRW is calculated separately, which is redundant."
Lee also revealed that various factors accounted in the water demand projection were unlikely to happen simultaneously.
"The amount is based on accumulated percentages from daily peaks, unaccounted increase in growth rates, sudden increase in industrial demand due to high water demand industries, scheduled and unscheduled water treatment plant shutdowns, unevenness in water demand and other factors.
"However, all of these factors cannot happen at once," he said.
He said the report's increasing trend of water demand in Selangor contradicts the actual demand which is flattening.
The report, prepared by Ranhill Consultant Sdn Bhd, revealed an increase from about 4,000 million litres per day (MLD) in 2010 to 4,963 MLD by 2020.
"Based on previous figures, the actual demand is about 4,000 MLD since 2010," said Lee.
"It's unusual for the consultant to project an increasing demand from 2009 when the trend shows it's flattening."
In his closing address, Selangor MB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim acknowledged Lee's presentation that the Langat 2 project was not an urgent measure to solve impending water woes in the state.
Organised by the Selangor government, the day--long forum was to highlight matters on the restructuring of water services in the state.
The state government intends to control and manage the industry, as prescribed by the Water Services Industry Act (WSIA) 2006.
However, the federal Government had mooted to implement the Langat 2 water treatment plant project to prevent a water crisis in Selangor in two years.