Rehda asked to implement housing projects with rainwater catchment system

PUTRAJAYA: The Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) has been asked to stress on environmental preservation by ensuring that housing projects carried out by its members are equipped with a rainwater catchment system.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said the request was in line with the ministry's ongoing water saving campaign.

"Currently, on average Malaysians are using 205 litres of water daily, surpassing both the standard daily water consumption stipulated by the United Nations and the ministry at 165 litres and 175 litres, respectively."

He said this after holding a meeting with the ministry's staff and launching its "One Cubic Metre Info Box", here on Jan 25.

Chin said the ministry would also convene a meeting with the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the National Water Services Commission to fine-tune several matters pertaining to the water saving campaign.

"We will also look into the possibility of amending the Uniform Building By-Laws to compel each building to have a rainwater catchment facility.

"The rainwater catchment system, if put into practice, will help us save water on a larger scale.

"I was informed that the company managing the Express Rail Link system had managed to save RM300,000 annually by using rainwater trapped in catchment tanks to wash their trains," he added. -- Bernama