Malaysia to build $1.5b water treatment plants, reservoirs to bolster Johor's self-sufficiency

This will boost state's treated water capacity by 41% amid its growing industrial needs

- Zunaira Saieed

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is pumping more than RM5 billion (S$1.5 billion) into building three reservoirs and three water treatment plants in Johor, as the southern state aims to be self-sufficient in treated water within five years amid growing population and industrial needs.

The reservoirs, to be built around the basins of three rivers, are expected to cost more than RM1.5 billion. They form part of the Malaysian government's Zero Dependency project to reduce the amount of treated water imported from Singapore, said Mr Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, Johor's state executive councillor for works, transportation and infrastructure.

The three reservoirs will be paired with the new treatment plants, expected to cost RM3.5 billion, with a total capacity of 890 million litres a day (MLD), said Mr Fazli. They will boost Johor's treated water capacity by 41 per cent to 3,061 MLD, from 2,171 MLD.

"We are targeting zero dependency on buying treated water from Singapore after 2030. But the main objective is that the new reservoirs will cater to the growth of industries in the JS-SEZ, as well as the rise in data centres," Mr Mohamad Fazli told The Straits Times on Feb 28.

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, or JS-SEZ, officially kicked in on Jan 6 with the signing of an agreement between Malaysia and Singapore.