PETALING JAYA, 29 May: The implementation of the Collection and Reuse of Rain Water (SPAH) which was enforced in 2010 in Petaling Jaya has proven the attentiveness by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) in efforts to preserve the environment effectively.
The MBPJ Mayor, Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad, said that MBPJ, through the Selangor Uniform Buildings by-law 1986 (Amendment 2012), requires the installation of SPAH in new buildings, detached and semi-detached buildings, government buildings, industrial buildings, institutions and commercial buildings.
She said that 672 developments have been required to implement the system since 2010, as of April.
“The SPAH technique can reduce the demand of public water, save water treatment costs and channel water and prevent flash floods due to heavy rain.
“MBPJ’s concern in addressing environmental problems, in addition to using the SPAH requirement, there have been other requirements imposes, like the ‘Green Building’ and other matters concerning the environment and nature.
“This effort requires commitment from developers,” she said during the Full MBPJ Meeting at the headquarters today.
She said that the SPAH technique can help supply water to consumers who use them in their homes if there is a public water supply crisis.
She said that the SPAH only needs to be installed to buildings with roof areas of over 100 square metres, where suitable rainwater tanks can be installed; a minimum size of three cubic metres for residential homes.
Alinah said that the SPAH installation cost for bungalows and semi-detached homes is estimated to be from RM3,000 and RM5,000 only.
“Among the pilot projects carried out was on 189 units of PKNS terraced houses in Kota Damansara and the One Utama Shopping Complex in 2003.
“With the construction cost of RM1.16 million and a water storage capacity of 2.3 gallons at any given time, it was able to reduce the water bill at One Utama to almost RM30,000 a month,” she said.
Apart from that, Alinah also informed that MBPJ has enforced the implementation of SPAH for the existing MBPJ building and will work towards providing awareness to the residents in Petaling Jaya about the importance of the SPAH system.
