SHAH ALAM, Jan 21 — State representatives, including Selangor State Executive Council members, are discussing effective methods of informing the public about the upcoming new water tariff, which will take effect on February 1.
State executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim said other issues discussed in the briefing organised by Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd include technical and water management matters.
"The briefing aims to provide further clarification regarding the adjustment of the water tariff announced by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) recently.
"I also shared how Air Selangor manages water, especially in dealing with non-revenue water (NRW), which has been successfully reduced from 33 per cent in 2015 to 28 per cent last year," he said in a Facebook post.
Taking place at the Mercure Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie Hotel yesterday, Izham said the state government will also bear the increased costs for over a million people, or 285,673 free water recipient accounts.
In addition, the increased costs for religious and welfare institutions in Selangor are also absorbed by the state administration at an estimated RM2 million.
On Friday (January 19), Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the new water tariff would assist Air Selangor's efforts in doubling the replacement of outdated equipment, thus preventing issues like leaking or bursting pipes.
He said the adjustment, the first in 18 years, will also facilitate the water supply company in replacing between 150km to 300km of outdated pipes annually starting this year.
As the adjustment is a response to the increasing costs, Amirudin said the construction of new water treatment plants will also be strengthened to increase the water reserve margin to 20 per cent by 2030.