Development Aspects Impressum Editors

United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (2011). Water and Sanitation: Underpinning the Pillars of Sustainable De- velopment in the Context of a Green Economy. UNSGAB contribution to UNCSD 2012, 26 September 2011. Available from www.uncsd2012.org/ rio20/content/documents/UNSGAB%20contribution%20UNCSD.pdf.


World Health Organization (2006). Guidelines for the Safe Use of Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater. Volume II: Wastewater Use in Agriculture. Geneva, Switzerland. Available from www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/waste- water/gsuww/en/index.html.

Chapter 6:

The N-Park Negalitres Project: A pilot water-saving initiative using green technology and changing water use behaviour

Ngai Weng Chan

School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia


The N-Park condominium, a four-block apartment comprising 965 units in Batu Uban, Penang, was the first condominium in the country to carry out a water- saving project. The N-Park Negalitres Project started in August 2009 and ended in December 2010. This was a smart-partnership project jointly implemented by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), Water Watch Penang (WWP), N- Park Management Corporation (NPMC) and Penang Water Supply Corporation Bhd (PBA). The project involved three main components: (i) a rainwater harvesting system comprising six tanks of 10,000 litres capacity each, built on the roof of one of the car-parking blocks adjacent to Block D; (ii) the installation of water-saving equipment in all the common area toilets with dual-flush cisterns, push-flush uri- nals and automatic push-taps; and (iii) a resident water-saving activity involving 100 apartments. Under that activity the participating apartment residents com- peted against one another to reduce their water use. Meetings and discussions were held every month to learn from one another and to iron out problems. Two water auditors gave advice and assistance to the participating residents. Results of the project showed that the rainwater harvesting system was most successful as the rainwater harvested was used for gardening, washing common areas and toi- lets, and for flushing toilets in the common areas. The water-saving equipment also resulted in substantial water savings. Both these items reduced water usage in the common areas of the condominium by 37.38 per cent in May, 36.51 per cent in July and 12.00 per cent in September 2011. This is an average monthly water savings of 28.63 per cent. In terms of monetary savings, this is equivalent to RM1,397.17 per month.¹ Over the six month period, the condominium saved 8,409,400 li- tres of water or the equivalent of RM8,391.00. However, results from the 100 participating apartments were not as encouraging, proving that changing human behaviour to save water is extremely difficult. This was largely due to cheap water tariffs, apathetic attitude and lack of interest, amongst other reasons. Hardly any water savings were made by the 100 apartments and a general trend of slight de- crease in water usage was apparent, but not significant. In conclusion, the project found that integrated water resources management smart-partnership between government, the private sector and NGOs is workable. High density apartments also show great potential as water savings are significant and easily achievable. The rainfall harvesting system showed the most promising results given Penang’s high monthly rainfall. This project can be easily replicated in other apartments

1. 
   RM is the Malaysian currency unit. RM1 approximates US$0.31 on 13 February 2012.
   

throughout the country and the government should seriously consider replicating this project nationwide. Rainfall harvesting and water-saving equipment should be made mandatory for all new apartments, hotels, factories, universities and other institutes of higher learning, and all large water consumers.

The other benefit of this project was the improvement of harmony between neighbours of all ethnicities and nationalities.