UTeM is committed in implementing programs to preserve and conserve the water resources available within the UTeM area. The University’s water management section has been placed under the Green Practices Section (Bahagian Amalan Hijau), Centre of Smart Environment Office namely as Penyelaras Air. This section focuses on conservation and preservation programs such as University’s lakes water quality and safety analysis, monthly water consumption analysis, water saving awareness and related programs, and developing an online water consumption monitoring system for buildings within the campus. More than 90% of water is conserved within the UTeM area.

Water sources in UTeM include the treated water supplied by Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (SAMB), retention lakes and the Rainwater Harvesting System (SPAH) that is installed at Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering (FKP), Transportation Deport and Kompleks Dewan Kuliah. The annual amount of water consumption is 285,953 m3. Average daily water consumption is approximately 783.4 m3. The amount of water harvested from rainwater is calculated by multiplying the tank capacity for 12 months.

The water conservation program implementations are as follows:

1. Retention lakes
   UTeM has a separate sewerage system, for wastewater and drainage system (rainwater, ablution, etc). Rainwater collected from the roofs of the buildings is then discharged into three local retention lakes, namely Tasik Gemilang, Tasik Cemerlang and Tasik Terbilang as shown in Figures 4.1.1 - 4.1.3. To ensure water safety in the retention lakes for any water activities, Leptospira analysis is performed periodically every year. The conservation water from UTeM lakes will discharge to a river when the lake achieves its maximum water capacity.

2. Rain Water Harvesting System (SPAH)
   Melaka Green Seal (MGS) is a green building rating tool in Melaka state that is designed by a committee under the Melaka Green Development Organization (MGDO) and Green Earth Design Solution (GEDS). In conforming to the MGS, the Transportation Depot, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering (FKP) and Kompleks Dewan Kuliah buildings are installed with Rain Water Harvesting System (SPAH). Through the system, the rainwater is collected in the integrated SPAH tanks before being distributed for toilet flushing and watering the landscaping plants.

3. Treated water supply and conservation facilities
   Treated water is supplied by Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (SAMB), a Melaka state government-linked companies which responsible for water supply services in Melaka. The treated water is conserved in water reservoir tanks located on the main campus before the water to be supplied to the faculties and buildings as shown in Figure 4.1.4. Treated water that is supplied to the faculties and building is conserved in a tank on the top of the building before being supplied to the facilities (Figure 4.1.5). To ensure that water supply savings can be regulated, an online system for water consumption monitoring is being developed by the UTeM water management section.

Treated water reservoir tanks

Treated water is conserved at treated water reservoir tanks

Water retention lakes: Cemerlang, Gemilang and Terbilang Lakes
Volume: 509 m3

Rainwater Harvesting System (SPAH)

Rainwater Harvesting System (SPAH)
No. of tanks: 13 units
Volume: 16.62 m3 for 13 units

Rainwater Harvesting System (SPAH) at Transportation Deport

No. of tank: 1 unit
Volume: 2.5 m3

Rainwater Harvesting System (SPAH) Kompleks Dewan Kuliah

Location: Kompleks Dewan Kuliah
No. of tanks: 1
Max. Conserved water volume: 6 m3

Through UTeM Energy Management Guidelines and Policy, UTeM is committed to continuously improve efficiency and conservation of energy, water and vehicle fuel, to address and act towards various processes and activities which might have impact toward usage of energy, water and vehicle fuel, and also committed to comply with the legislation related to management of energy, water and vehicle fuel.

One of the highlights of this program is the involvement of the technical workers to invent cheap water efficient device, namely MA4RU. The MA4RU are mostly installed at the university mosque water faucets where mainly use for ablution purpose.

As part of UTeM Energy Policy, the university has undertaken the initiatives to water conservation measures by applying water efficient appliances. Currently, approximately 76% of water appliances are equipped with water efficient appliances. Most of the water faucets and shower head are installed with water efficient appliances, while the toilet flushes also have dual flush system and manually installed water-control flush.

Water control parts

Water Efficient Appliances: MA4RU

Dimensions: Length- 40 mm, Diameter (inner) - 15mm, Diameter (outer) - 8mm

Water control parts invented by UTeM staff

Handwashing taps

Water taps all around the campus

High efficient toilet flush

High efficient toilet flush

UTeM had built the Centralized Sewage Treatment Plant to manage the sewerage produce by the university buildings before it is being flow to nearby river. In complying the regulation of Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia, all the necessary actions of sewage treatment process have to be practice and regularly will be audited by DOE Malaysia.

The process of monitoring treated water is done under the Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Program. These monitoring guidelines are issued by the Drinking Water Quality Control Unit of the Engineering Services Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia. These guidelines are based on the standards issued by the WHO and are safe drinking water quality standards, formulated through panel discussions from the Department of Public Works, the Department of Chemistry and the Department of the Environment. Water quality standards (Drinking Water Quality Standard for Malaysia) for drinking purposes have been set and they include tests for pH, temperature, color, content of organic matter, organisms, metals, chemicals, insecticides and others.
To see the table of these Standards please go to the website http://kmam.moh.gov.my/public-user/drinking-water-quality-standard.html.

The public water supply has gone through a strict treatment process according to the prescribed treatment phases until it can reach the desired standards. The basic treatment process phases start with Aeration, Flocculation and Coagulation, Sedimentation, Filtration, pH Correction (if necessary), Fluoridation and Chlorination. The treatment process is proven to remove all unwanted elements from drinking water. Quality control is carried out at the final stage of the treatment process before the distribution of water supply is carried out while routine and periodic monitoring is carried out throughout the water supply system network before it is received by users. Thus the water supply supplied from the public water pipe supply is safe to drink without having to go through any further process.

Process to ptevent polluted water entering water system to UTeM

Water quality monitoring check points at UTeM lakes

UTeM has a separated sewerage system, for wastewater and drainage system (rainwater, ablution, etc). Rainwater collected from the roofs of the buildings is then discharged into three local retention lakes, namely Tasik Gemilang, Tasik Cemerlang and Tasik Terbilang. To ensure water safety in the retention lakes for any water activities, Leptospira bacteria analysis is performed periodically every year. The sample was taken from several points at the lakes with a total of 15 points.

The lakes were set with a few points:
i. Lake Terbilang : 4 points
ii. Lake Gemilang : 7 points
iii. Lake Cemerlang : 4 points

Steps:

1. Label the bottle with masking tape
2. Take the sample from the different points at the lakes. Refer to Figure 4.5.1-4.5.3.
3. Fill the bottle with a label using a funnel and wrap it with bubble wrap.
4. Courier the sample to a certified lab for analysis.

Example report for water sample

The certified lab issued the official report on detecting the Leptospira bacteria in a water sample. An example of the report is shown in Figure 4.5.8. This report is monitored by the Center of Smart Environment, UTeM. Monitoring and evaluation report is done regularly every 3 months.

Treated water for drinking . UTeM installed the treated water tank for drinking around the campus. This water tank is free to use for all staff and students. The drinking water is refillable automatically when the water is empty in the tank.