BY RAZAK AHMAD

PETALING JAYA: The urban heat island effect in cities is causing a rise in temperatures, making it even more important to reduce the high rate of non-revenue water (NRW) losses in the Klang Valley.

Demand for water is only expected to rise in the coming years, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia president S. Piarapakaran noted.

Failure to resolve the Klang Valley’s NRW, which stood at 35% at present, could lead to severe water shortages in future, he added.

NRW refers to treated water that is produced but lost before reaching consumers owing to pipe leaks or water theft.

“Building new water treatment plants alone is not enough if you connect the extra supply back into a leaking system. The proper solution is to deal with NRW,” he said, commenting on a World Bank report on temperature anomalies in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Penang, Johor Baru, Kuantan and Kota Kinabalu growing faster than the global average.

The report, titled Achieving a System of Competitive Cities in Malaysia, said that in the medium to long term, climate change is expected to result in more heat waves, raise energy demand for cooling, and increase water consumption.

Research by a local academic has also shown that the rising temperatures are causing heavier rainfall, but only over cities instead of the neighbouring rural areas where most dams are located.

Piarapakaran called for mandatory water efficiency labelling coupled with implementing a minimum water efficiency standard for consumer products, including washing machines.

This, he said, would help make consumers more aware of water-efficient products.

He also suggested gradually raising the minimum standards of waste water discharged into rivers over time.

Malaysia’s cities absorb much of the energy and water produced in the country because of rapid development and continued population growth.

Citing an example, Piarapakaran said that 40% of the electricity generated in Peninsular Malaysia is used to meet demand in the Klang Valley.