This project is rooted from how the nation is heading towards water crisis due to an increase in water demand with unmatched water supply, lack of river basin management and climate change, especially with the intensified El Nino-related droughts together with our growing population. 

The project was initiated to sustain our water resources through ‘water balancing’.  The concept of ‘water balancing’ refers to encouraging industries to maximize water efficiency and manage wastewater discharges while the relevant stakeholders are empowered on water conservation capacity. 

The main location of this project is at Petaling Jaya which is within Klang River basin (where sullage and wastewater effluents are discharged) whereas the water intake for industries is located within the Selangor River basin (40km to the north). Both basins play equal important roles and action is needed to ensure the water management issues are addressed in both basins.

Duration: 2018 - 2020

Funder: SPARK Foundation

Project Website: http://www.waterproject.net.my/

Aim/objective:

The overall aim of the project is to assist SPARK Foundation to reduce stress on local water resource and ensure watershed security and water balance through following objectives:

• To continue Sg Penchala River Education Programme (including Sg Way) and phase out the Sg Kinta River Education Programme
• To maintain or enhance river ecosystem health through balancing water intake and discharge activities
• To empower targeted groups on good water stewardship
• To encourage participatory approaches in river basin projects by relevant government agencies

Project Progress:

To date, GEC has installed thimbles for 382 households (1660 beneficiaries) in Desa Mentari and Hulu Selangor area beside installed 1 rainwater harvesting system at Blok 5 Desa Mentari communities in PJ. Together with Friends of Bukit Kiara, we have engaged more than 1000 community members through talks and exhibitions on the importance of protecting the water source of Sungai Penchala. We have also established a constructed wetlands cell (CWC) with support of LUAS, DID Petaling and Friends of Sungai Penchala at Section 19, PJ  to improve the river water quality and biological quality and planted 600 trees at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve with SPARK Foundation volunteers. 

Other activities undertaken through this project include river restoration at the source of Penchala River, water quality and aquatic invertebrate study, and organising riverwalk activities along the upstream of Penchala River.   
 

For more information on the project, please contact outreach@gec.org.my .