Sustainable Water Resource Management for Community via Drinking Water Supply

This project was initiated by Global Environment Centre (GEC) and HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad which aimed to address the challenges faced by rural community for their potable water accessibility.

OUR OBJECTIVES

  • To engage targeted communities on sustainable water resource management initiative including water resource protection through community empowerment and education.
  • To demonstrate simple and practical water supply and waste management options to protect their water resources.
  • To provide and further outreach to support water supply for rural community through alternative water options.

 

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • To demonstrate pilot project on some simple or/and practical alternative water supply for selected community
  • To provide portable water supply for communities in need
  • To provide training and education on safe potable water and alternative water sources for day-to-day activities focusing on water conservation and waste management
  • To train the communities as ears and eyes on Water Resource Management – Through Water Resource and Pollution Management
  • To outreach and share the success story with other communities in need of portable water sources
  

PROJECT AREA

The project focuses on the Orang Asli community at Upper Kinta Basin near to the Sultan Azlan Shah Dam, Hulu Kinta. The Upper Kinta Basin (UKB) covers an approximate area of 69,736 hectares1 encompasses Chemor to the north, Lahat to the south, and other major towns such as Ipoh, Tanjung Rambutan, Jelapang, Tambun and Ulu Kinta. The UKB lies entirely in Mukim (sub district) Hulu Kinta in the Kinta district. The Hulu Kinta sub district is divided into Chemor, Ipoh, Lahat and Tanjug Rambutan, administered by the Pejabat Daerah dan Tanah Ipoh. The project area is within the local authority’s administration of Ipoh City Council (MBI).

Distribution of Community in Upper Kinta Basin

PROJECT OUTCOMES

a) Establishment an environmentally-aware group

Through project implementation and series of conducted activities, the project has educated and empowered the community on the importance of clean water, water conservation and river management as well as pollution reduction initiatives. Thus, a total of 6 community groups successfully established as an environmental committee group for each village as reported in the Project Status. Through this, it is hoped that the community will take ownership and aware of their local issues related to the environment, especially on their water supply as well as to ensure the project sustainability.

Water without filtration (left) and water with filtration (right)

b) Support alternative clean water supply to the villagers

In total, 8 villages (278 houses with 1,778 residents) has benefited from the project through alternative, enhancement and improvement of their water supply.

c) Increase awareness and commitments of HSBC Staff

In total 19 HSBC staff were empowered on the environmental management issues related to water conservation, river monitoring and pollution reduction through in-house training and on-site training as well the education and project materials. The staffs were also empowered on the skill to handle and conduct the training for the Orang Asli as part of their commitment in supporting the project. Through this, it is hoped that the message and the information given during the training and the experience gained during the on-site activities/visit were also shared with others HSBC Staff members through appropriate platforms. d) Improves water management Through the water conservation training - RIVER Ranger and skill empowerment training, it is hoped that the communities will partake and implement the sustainable practices as part of their commitment towards the improvements of water management as well as committed to maintain their water supply systems. Installation and improvement of water supply system also become the platform for Orang Asli to improve their quality of life especially in getting clean water supply.

Committed committee groups established to monitor their water supply system Kg. Makmur

Committed committee groups established to monitor their water supply system Kg. Suloh