Malaysia urged to go beyond infrastructure fixes in tackling water losses

SHAH ALAM - Solving Malaysia’s non-revenue water (NRW) crisis will require more than replacing ageing pipes, with experts calling for stronger governance, sustainable financing and widespread adoption of advanced technologies.

Former National Water Services Commission chairman Charles Santiago said tackling NRW effectively must begin with firm political commitment and long-term funding strategies.

“Addressing the issue requires strong leadership and coordinated action, supported by sustainable funding mechanisms. One viable approach is to mobilise capital through collaboration with banks and corporations, including the issuance of water bonds.

“Another option is introducing a small surcharge within water bills, similar to existing mechanisms used in the renewable energy sector through the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda).

“For instance, a minimal fee per litre of water usage or a fixed monthly charge could be implemented to fund pipe replacements and reduce NRW within a targeted timeframe, such as five years,” he said.

However, Santiago stressed that any funding reform must be implemented transparently to maintain public trust.

He said consumers must clearly understand how the funds are used and the long-term benefits of reducing water losses.

“Without intervention, treated water losses will continue to escalate, effectively resulting in large volumes of water being wasted underground,” he added.

Santiago also highlighted the role of digital technology in improving operational efficiency across water networks.

According to him, smart meters are capable of detecting leaks through sound patterns and abnormal consumption behaviour, enabling quicker intervention and reducing overall losses.

Water engineering expert from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Associate Professor Dr Syazwani Idrus agreed that reducing NRW requires a combination of infrastructure renewal and advanced technology deployment.

“Addressing NRW requires both infrastructure upgrades and the adoption of advanced technologies.

“Leak detection systems such as acoustic sensors and correlators can help identify leaks more precisely, while diagnostic tools allow utilities to assess severity and prioritise repairs,” she said.

Syazwani said smart metering technologies such as Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) allow real-time data collection, improve monitoring accuracy and reduce commercial losses.

She added that pressure management systems, including Pressure Reducing Valves and District Metered Areas (DMA), help utilities isolate sections of the network and manage leaks more efficiently.

“More advanced approaches, including the use of historical data analytics and machine learning, can also support predictive maintenance by identifying potential failures before they occur, reducing both repair costs and water losses.

“These combined measures are essential for building a more resilient and efficient water supply system, particularly in the face of increasing demand and climate variability,” she added.