Development Aspects Impressum Editors

Keywords:

Green technology
Water demand management Water efficiency management Rainfall harvesting
Water conservation

1. Introduction

Throughout the development of the water industry, technological advancement in the water sector has demonstrated that water behaviour can be changed or controlled for the sake of water conservation to benefit the larger picture of sus- tainable development (Chuah, 2010). Water flow, pressure, quantity and quality, to a certain extent, can be controlled by appropriate technologies, especially green technology that has emerged in recent decades. In many developed countries, use of technology such as dual-flush cisterns, water regulators and rainfall harvesting systems has substantially reduced water consumption and demand (Chan, 2002, 2010a). Results from many studies have shown that water behaviour can be ma- nipulated and changed to achieve specified targets for water savings. Results of such technical applications to change the behaviour of water users have yielded reductions in water consumption between 20 and 30 per cent of normal water use. Because of this, large water users, such as big hotels, universities, schools, facto- ries and industries, have adopted technical water demand management (WDM) measures to change water use behaviour. Demand management reflects a major paradigm shift from the traditional approach of top-down, government-controlled water supply management (WSM) to a more public-centred, bottom-up WDM ap- proach in water resources management. While WSM over-relies on expensive and technologically advanced construction of physical infrastructures such as dams, reverse osmosis treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants and desalination (the aim is to increase water supply for direct use), WDM is based on an improve- ment in efficiency of water use, water conservation, water recycling and water reuse, all of which are much easier and cheaper to implement within a shorter period of time. WDM examines the ways water consumers (people, hotels, facto- ries, businesses, etc.) demand and use water, and identifies/innovates new meth- ods/measures aimed at achieving more efficient and cost-effective water use. The main aim of WDM is not to control water use but ideally to encourage wise water use, i.e., to reduce wasteful use of this precious resource. The most important aim of WDM is that it can sometimes obviate or delay the need for new physical or

infrastructure investments (like capital expenditure), as water saved can then be allocated to other users, hence reducing water demands on existing systems. Ac- cording to the Global Water Partnership (GWP), demand management works best in an integrated water resources management (IWRM) framework which looks across sectors and makes proper links between policy instruments and impacts. ²

However, technology cannot change human behaviour in relation to water use. Research has shown that human behaviour is extremely complex. Social sci- entists, especially researchers in the field of environmental humanities, believe that merely adopting a technical solution that only addresses a technical problem does not solve the entire problem of inadequate water supplies. This is because such technical solutions do not address the root causes of inadequate water supplies vis-à-vis water consumption (Chan, 2010b). Hence, it is more important to change water consumption which is closely tied to human behaviour. This paper examines examples of changing human behaviour towards wise water use and conserva- tion via WDM. In many countries where the citizenry are sensitized towards water and environment, the consumption of water is minimized. Therefore, the results are higher water savings to the tune of 40–50 per cent of normal water use. For example, Malaysia’s nearest neighbour, Singapore, has managed to reduce water demands amongst its consumers significantly, thereby creating a “water-saving society”. Singapore has managed to reduce average monthly household water consumption from 21.7 m³ in 1995 to 19.3 m³ in 2004, a decrease of 11 per cent (Tortalajada, 2006). When implemented together, i.e., via changing the behaviour of water and humans, the results can be outstanding. This paper showcases a best management practice (BMP) of WDM in Penang, Malaysia (Chan, 2010c). It is hoped that this BMP will be replicated all over the country to ensure water security for the future. The paper also seeks to show that both WSM and WDM are needed to complement one another towards achieving sustainable future water resources.

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