1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.

1 Water Supply and Management in Malaysia The water supply management and development in Malaysia is not centralized, but it is managed on a state-by-state basis. The Department of Environment (DOE) is responsible to monitor the river basins to determine the water quality in relation to major pollution sources, while the Ministry of Health (MOH) is responsible for monitoring the raw water quality in the reservoirs at the intake points of the treatment plants. Then, State Water Authorities or private companies will supply piped drinking water from the treatment plants to the population. 1.2 Water quality surveillance and monitoring The lead agency for water quality monitoring and surveillance is the MOH through its Engineering Services Division whose responsibility is to ensure the quality and safety of all drinking water and the resolution of problems in provision and supply. The supply of water and the establishment of associated standards and practices are the responsibility of Federal, State and District Works Departments and the analysis of water samples falls to the Federal and Regional Departments of Chemistry. The protection of water resources and control of pollution sources is the responsibility of Federal and Regional Environment Departments. The relationships between and within agencies are promoted through a National Technical Committee for Drinking Water Quality Surveillance. 1.3 Water quality standards -National Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS) The Ministry of Health established the National Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS) in 1983, with the most recent revision in 2000 due for circulation for use in 2002. At present the drinking water quality standards serve only as guidelines and there is no legislative power to enforce standards. These standards stipulate limits for physical, chemical, microbiological and radiological parameters of drinking water to ensure maximum protection of the health and well being of the consumer. Besides, these standards are applicable to all water intended for human consumption included drinking water from all public water supply systems, tank supplies and water used for bottled drinks and ice manufacturing. In addition, these standards are necessary Most of these levels are based on the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water, 1996. 2.0 QUALITY REQUIREMENTS 2.1 Raw Water Quality Criteria The recommended criteria for microbiological, physical, chemical and radioactive constituents of raw water which will be suitable as a potable source after undergoing conventional treatment are listed in Table 1, Column I. If a raw water source has a quality that conforms to the recommended standards set in the drinking water quality standards, then it can be supplied with minimal treatment, which in most cases involves disinfection only. If a raw water source has quality that does not conform to the recommended raw water quality criteria, then appropriate action shall be taken to identify and overcome the problem to allow for continued operation of conventional treatment. Special treatment should only be considered as a last resort.

2.2 Drinking Water Quality Standards The quality of drinking water is measured in terms of its microbiological, physical, chemical and radioactivity characteristics. These characteristics and constituents with

their recommended standards shall not be exceeded to ensure maximum protection of the consumer. In addition, attention is to be given to parameters relating to the bacteriological quality and chemical toxicity of the water. The other important parameter is residual chlorine. If the characteristics or constituents in water after repeated sampling exceed the recommended standards, then it shall be investigated by the personnel of the Department of Health and the water purveyor immediately to ascertain the cause and to remove the source of contamination. If these measures fail repeatedly the public shall be notified and possibly an alternative source of supply should be sought. 2.3 Expression of Results This document also specifies the unit of each parameters. For instance, the unit of chemical and microorganisms composition, turbidity, colour, volumes, temperature and radioactivity.

APPENDIX TABLE 1 RECOMMENDED RAW WATER QUALITY CRITERIA AND FREQUENCY OF MONITORING
COLUMN I ACCEPTABLE VALUE mg/l (unless otherwise stated) COLUMN II FREQUENCY TO BE MONITORED DIRECT IMPOUNDING SOURCE OF REFERENCE COLUMN III

NO.

PARAMETERS

SURFACE

GROUND

GROUP I 1 TOTAL COLIFORM 5,000 MPN/100ml or cfu/100ml 1,000 NTU 300 TCU 5.5 9.0 W M M WHO1

2 3 4

TURBIDITY COLOUR pH GROUP II

W W W

M M M

M M M

WHO2 WHO1 MAL

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND CHLORIDE ANIONIC DETERGENT MBAS AMMONIA (as N) NITRATE (as N) IRON (as Fe) FLUORIDE HARDNESS MANGANESE GROUP III

1,500 6 10 250 1.0 1.5 10 1.0 1.5 500 0.2

M M M M M M M M M M M

Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4

Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4

WHO1 WHO1 WHO1 MAL WHO1 WHO1 MAL MAL WHO1 MAL WHO1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

MERCURY CADMIUM SELENIUM ARSENIC CYANIDE LEAD CHROMIUM SILVER COPPER

0.001 0.003 0.01 0.01 0.07 0.05 0.05 0.05 1.0

Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4

Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4

Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4

MAL MAL WHO1 MAL MAL MAL WHO1 MAL MAL

10 11 12 13 14 15

MAGNESIUM SODIUM ZINC SULPHATE MINERAL OIL PHENOL

150 200 3 250 0.3 0.002

Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4

Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4

Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4 Y/4

MAL MAL MAL MAL MAL WHO1