BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Continuous studies carried out from last year show that the daily water usage in the country has decreased from the rate of four hundred and fifty litres per person, Brudirect reported.
According to the Minister of Development, leakage control and water conservation management programmes on water awareness carried out by the Ministry on efficient use of water has shown a positive impact on the people in the country.
However, the Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Suyoi Hj Osman lamented in an interview at the World Water Day observation ceremony recently that water usage in the country is still at all time high compared to other countries of the ASEAN region.
The minister reminds the people that water, if not used prudently, can directly contribute to significant wastage of resources for which more facilities such as dams and water treatment plants are needed and these would incur unnecessary expenditure.
The Minister of Development therefore urged members of the public to always monitor and keep a close watch for any leaking pipes and inform the authorities concerned especially the PWD (Public Works Department), as leaking pipes too can contribute to water wastage; at the same time, the public should always make it a habit of using water sparingly and to have spoilt taps quickly repaired or replaced so as not to waste water.
Although World Water Day falls every 22nd of March, it is observed throughout the year in different ways all over the world. According to the United Nations Organisation, the theme this year is “Water and Energy”, symbolising the close link or inter-dependency between water and energy.
According to the Acting Director of Water Services, Public Works Department, Ms Alice Lim Sui Kau, the PWD aims to raise public awareness on the limited source of water and that its use is not only for us today but also for the future.