RESULTS OF THE BLOG CONTEST

I didn't win the top three prizes.... I did win RM200.00 for the consolation prize!!!! To the winners, congratulations!

WATER AUDIT IN SCHOOLS

There are many schools across the globe that carry out water conservation. For examples Madhya Pradesh school, schools in Pune, India, Victorian schools in Australia, North Carolina schools, USA, Windhoek Schools in Namibia, schools in Dublin, and the list goes on. But what about schools in Malaysia? How many schools implement water conservation in their yearly programmes?

In my opinion, schools in Malaysia should start campaigns to save water. There should be a water audit done  in schools. Read the news below ;

(reference: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article1692135.ece)

Water audit in schools soon

K. Lakshmi

  In an effort to promote judicious use of water in educational institutions, the Rain Centre will soon conduct a water audit in several schools across the city. The centre plans to cover 30 schools in the first phase next month, including those run by government. The centre's director Sekhar Raghavan said a questionnaire is being prepared and it would be distributed to schools soon.

  Many schools do not pay much attention to the amount of water consumed or how groundwater could be optimally used. Many of the institutions instead depend on tanker supply, which comes at a cost, or use drinking water for all purposes.

  Mr. Raghavan and his team members who have advised many educational institutions on water resource management and rainwater harvesting plan to use the Centre's experience to conduct the audit.

“Even some reputed schools do not understand the need to manage water resources efficiently and harness rainwater. They spend heavily on purchasing water. Flooding on school premises can be prevented to some extent if rainwater harvesting is implemented properly,” he said. The centre plans to collect information on the daily water consumption, student strength, the area of the school premises, availability of water resources and quality and whether rainwater harvesting has been implemented.

  Based on the findings of water audit, the team from the centre would visit the educational institutions and provide advice free of cost on water management and cost cutting measures. “We are also looking for schools that have big campus, as there is more potential for harnessing rainwater,” Mr. Raghavan said.

The centre would also conduct awareness programme on water conservation and the importance of rainwater harvesting for school students as they would carry the message to their families. Students would be taught about use of different qualities of water for various purposes.

Representatives of various schools welcomed the move and awareness programmes for children. V.M.Kalavalli, headmistress of a government school in Ashok Nagar, said water from 10 borewells on the school premises is used by nearly 4,000 students.

  Until a reverse osmosis plant was installed recently, the school was dependent on drinking water supplied by Chennai Metrowater.

V.Suma Padmanabhan, principal, Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School, said groundwater was used extensively for non-potable purposes and RWH system ensured the availability of water throughout the year.

  The school has installed taps with push buttons to ensure that water is not wasted.

            
         There are many other news related to water audit in schools. It is a qualitative and quantitative analysis of water consumption to identify means of reducing, reusing and recycling water. A water audit can help to save money by reducing the school bills, reduce wastage and unnecessary use and makes the students more aware and responsible.

The University of Arizona invented a SWAP (Save Water Audit Program). This programme can empower students, save water, energy, and money as well as connect with the community! More information can be obtained at http://cals.arizona.edu/arizonawet/teachersupport/swap

School Water Audit

Before the water audit

1. Look at the school’s water bills over a two-year period to identify changes in water use.

2. Calculate the average water consumption per student.

3. Identify the location of all water outlets such as toilets, showers, sinks, indoor and outdoor taps in the school.

4. Make a school community commitment to water education and water conservation and inform the school community (students, staff and parents) about the date of the water audit.

5. Arrange for an adult or student leader (teacher, parent) to assist a group of students to undertake the water audit.

On the day of the water audit

1. Remind staff and students that the water audit will be taking place and students will require   access to all areas of the school for approximately 30 minutes.

2. Brief team leaders on the water audit process.

3. Organise the class into water audit groups and appoint a team leader, recorder and reporter.

4. Provide students with work sheets, pencils and a map of the school grounds and buildings.

5. Remind students of health and safety rules.

6. Each team leader reports on the results of their audit area.

7. Identify areas of water wastage and develop a school water savings action plan.

Equipment (A clip board for group leaders, buckets and/or one litre jugs, stop watches, tape measures, disposable gloves)

After the water audit

1. Develop a school water savings action plan. Identify short and long term water saving targets.

2. Inform the school community (students, staff and parents) of the outcomes of the water audit.

3. Establish a school protocol for reporting leaking taps and pipes.

Ongoing water education and water conservation strategies

1. Integrate water education and water conservation across all classes.

2. Undertake a school water audit annually.

3. Review and update your school water savings action plan annually.

4. Communicate and celebrate water saving achievements.

5. Integrate water saving strategies and outcomes into school policies.
6. Share your ideas and achievements with other schools and the wider community.

School Water Audit

MY POSTER FOR THE BLOG

I just finished creating a poster for this blog. The poster contains information about water sources in Malaysia, water problems that we face and also some solutions to ensure that we are able to conserve and preserve this precious gift .

EBOOKS ON WATER

Here are some ebooks that you can read online.

1. Sick Water?

http://www.grida.no/publications/rr/sickwater/ebook.aspx

2. Various reading materials on water pollution

http://www.questia.com/library/water-pollution.jsp

3. Save Water Articles

http://www.pdflibrary.info/en/ebook/save%20water-1.html

 4. Water: The Shocking Truth That Can Save Your Life

http://www.ebook3000.com/Water--The-Shocking-Truth-That-can-Save-Your-Life_99745.html

 

5. Malaysia's Water Vision

http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/AB776E/ab776e02.htm

 

 

SONGS ON IMPORTANCE OF WATER

Here are some songs that are about the importance of water. You can listen to them by going to the links below or click on the mp3 player widget that appears at the end of the page.

HAPPY LISTENING!!!

https://emily7477.opendrive.com/user_account/files.php?fid=4298902911_YNGxN

I'll try to add  more songs.

Credits to the songs are listed in the Sources and Credits Page.

WORLD WATER DAY

 

World Water Day 2011

   It started from an initiative from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The UN General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water. It was observed starting in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development contained in chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21.  Its objective is to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

  For World Water Day 2011, the theme is "Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge." You can click this link to get more information,

http://www.worldwaterday2011.org/

   Let's see what our country did for this special day. On 12 March, 2011, in Pekan River Front, Pahang, there was a celebration officiated by our Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak. He pointed out three categories namely: excessive water that led to floods, water shortage that led to drought, and water quality caused by weather changes and global warming that were among the challenges and issues pertaining to water. As such, more concerted efforts need to be implemented for water resource governance at the federal and state levels in a more integrated manner. 

  Meanwhile in Penang, the event was held on 3 April, 2011 at Taman Metropolitan Relau. SPAN (Suruhanjaya Air Negara) aims are ;

• To create awareness for the public to conserve the environment and the need to conserve water
• Participated in the exhibition organized by Water Watch Penang and to promote SPAN regarding it’s main functions and duties
• To create awareness and knowledge  regarding  the role of the Span’s main  functions on treated water and the sewerage industry in  Malaysia

  Here are some photos of the event ( taken from  http://www.span.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=497&Itemid=708)

  SPAN had several open days on 14 and 23 April , 2011 at Sri Gading Water Treatment Plant , Batu Pahat Parit Raja Water Treatment Plant, Johor  and also Rasa Water Treatment Plant, Kuala Kubu Bharu. SATU Water (Syarikat Air Terengganu) also organized an open day. There were also other states that had an open day to celebrate this special event. On 26 April, at  Laku Management Sdn Bhd there was an open day to let visitors learn on how water is being processed, treated and distributed. The open day, from 9am to 4pm, was held at water treatment plants in Miri, Bintulu and Limbang simultaneously. The event was aimed at raising the awareness on appreciation for water.

 

   There were many other events held at school, organisation, company and state level such ENO Malaysia and Malaysian Nature Society Kedah Branch, on 22 Mar 11 celebrated  at Kuala Selangor, with international youth group from 20 countries and local Malaysian students SMK Teloi Kanan, Kuala Ketil, Malaysia launched World Water Monitoring Day 2011.

MY BLOG LOGO

This is the logo I created for this blog. It's a bit simple but sometimes simplicity is better. The letters "MH2O" stand for "My Water" and "H2OM" stand for "Malaysian Water". The colour blue symbolises water and the tap as well as the water drop of  the letter "O" is to indicate "Saving Water". This means that saving water starts with the individual (I, who is also a Malaysian) because it is our very own precious water.

WATER CONSERVATION GAMES

Here's a game I found on the internet about conserving water. It was developed by Crystal (on behalf of the UK Water Industry)

http://www.thewaterfamily.co.uk/index2_content.html

 This is another cool game created by Swinburne University, Faculty of Design, Multimedia Design, Australia
http://www.missionh2o.com.au/game/

My Song (SAVING WATER IS SUCH FUN)

This is an MV I created to promote Malaysians to save water. I choose the song "Old McDonald Had A Farm" as other popular songs may have copyright claims and so on. It took me 2 days to finish the lyrics. Hope you will like this MV. Happy Watching!

WATER POLLUTION IN MALAYSIA

River, Marine & Ground Water

The sources of water pollution in Malaysia have been identified as sewage treatment plants, manufacturing, agro-based industries, animal farms , agricultural activities and surface runoffs.

Quality of river water, 1992-1998

Category	1992		1993		1994		1995		1996		1997		1998
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Very polluted	7	8.1	11	9.5	14	12.1	14	12.2	13	11.2	25	21.4	16	13
Slightly polluted	55	63.2	73	62.9	64	55.2	53	46.1	61	52.6	68	58.1	71	59
Clean	25	28.7	32	27.6	38	32.7	48	41.7	42	36.2	24	20.5	33	28
Total	87	100	116	100	116	100	115	100	116	100	117	100	120	100

Rivers are easy conduits for disposal of domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural effluents. Agriculture expansion and industrialisation have overstressed river systems. Many river basins have reached their limits of water supply and are now susceptible to water stress and droughts. Rapid development has produced great amounts of human wastes, wastes from man's activities, including agriculture, industrial, commercial and transportation wastes. A large number of rivers are polluted, some to the extent of being not rehabilitable.

 

Deforestation has also led to the opening up of large tracts of land within river basins and this has resulted in not only increased sediment loading in the river systems but also in the aggravation of floods which further pollute the waters.

          The major pollutants are Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N) and Suspended Solids (SS). High BOD is contributed largely by untreated or partially treated sewage and discharges from agro-based and manufacturing industries. The main sources of NH3-N are domestic sewage and livestock farming, whilst the sources for SS are mostly earthworks and land clearing activities.

Analysis of heavy metals in 5,613 water samples revealed that almost all samples complied with Class III, National Water Quality Standards for arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), except iron (Fe) with 83 percent compliance.

State	No. of STP	Total PE	Flow (m3/day)	BOD Load (kg/day)
Selangor	2,563	5,908,450	1,329,401	332,350.31
Perak	1,343	1,300,430	292,597	73,149.19
Johor	1010	1,198,417	269,644	67,410.96
Negeri Sembilan	928	931,458	209,578	52,394.51
Kedah	755	556,637	125,243	31,310.83
Melaka	725	570,192	128,293	32,073.30
Pulau Pinang	650	2,149,001	483,525	120,881.31
Pahang	486	314,830	70,837	17,709.19
WP Kuala Lumpur	299	2,571,877	578,672	144,668.08
Terengganu	224	75,184	16,916	4,229.10
Perlis	36	16,156	3,635	908.78
WP Labuan	32	39,265	8,835	2,208.66
WP Putrajaya	9	72,833	16,387	4,096.86
Total	9,060	15,704,730	3,533,563	883,391.08

Source: IWK Sdn. Bhd.

Note : STP = Sewage Treatment Plant, PE = Population Equivalent

        The main contaminants of the marine waters of all States are suspended solids (75%), Escherichia coli (55%) and oil and grease (35%). Sources of the total suspended solids are agricultural activities, tourism development, coastal reclamation, logging and road construction. Sources of the E. coli are untreated or partially treated domestic and animal wastes. Sources of oil and grease are discharges from vessels such as tank clearing, deballasting, bilges and bunkering, and leakages and disposal of engine oil from ferries and boats. 

         Water samples from wells are analysed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, heavy metals, anions, bacteria (coliform), phenolic compounds, radioactivity (Gross Alpha and Beta), total hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen (DO).

Water samples are taken from wells, rural areas, landfills, municipal water supply, golf courses, agricultural and industrial areas as well as radioactive sites. They are analysed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, heavy metals, anions, bacteria (coliform), phenolic compounds, radioactivity (Gross Alpha and Beta), total hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen (DO). The sampling results show high levels of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nitrate, and arsenic.

The authorities, water NGOs and the public are working towards river restoration and rehabilitation. The Drainage and Irrigation Department has initiated a program to clean up rivers of solid waste and silt, to improve water quality to Class III (recreational purposes without body contact) and to beautify strategic stretches of the river for recreational purposes. Intensified enforcement efforts and good environmental management practices contribute to the water quality improvement.