KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 — Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) is aiming to replace 39,000km of pipes across Malaysia by 2030, said its chief executive officer Zulkiflee Omar.
He said replacement works, especially of old pipes, are important to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) rates and ensure stable, sufficient water supply.
“We are replacing pipes because we want the NRW (rate) to go down, but we have to make sure the areas or locations given focus include those (with pipes) that frequently burst.
“Selangor, for example, the state government plans five to 10 years ahead for pipe replacement. To replace 3,000km would surely cost a lot, so the 300km target is appropriate and other countries should follow its example,” Zukiflee said during a forum with media practitioners here today.
Previously, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) announced its aim of replacing 300km of piping every year from 2024.
Overall, the company aims to replace around 6,000km of old AC piping that have been identified as high risk.
In this effort, PAAB chairman Dato’ Seri Jaseni Maidinsa suggested the Selangor government consider expanding existing dams to face climate change challenges.
“Existing dams were built based on standard British technology. Even though they can last 100 years, they can only accommodate 100 days’ worth of water.
“(I suggest) expanding dams so they can hold the water capacity in the more than five months of the rainy and flooding season,” Jaseni said.
