The Ingenieur Vol 57 January-March 2014 The Ingenieur Vol 57 January-March 2014 | Seite 26

INGENIEUR
Way Forward
The implementation of rainwater
harvesting systems for new
buildings as stipulated in the
UBBL 1984 Amendment 2011 is
vital in mainstreaming rainwater
harvesting
for
sustainable
water resources management.
Other states in Malaysia should
follow in the footsteps of Perak,
Selangor, Johor, Kelantan and
the Federal Territory of Kuala
Lumpur in gazetting the amended
by-law.
Going forward, more efforts
are needed to encourage the
use and practice of rainwater
harvesting,
especially
for
existing buildings. Economic
incentives such as rebates or
tax exemptions, education and
raising awareness, guidelines
and restrictions in usage of
piped water should be introduced
and implemented in order to
encourage rainwater harvesting
practice (Osman et. al, 2007). To

encourage public participation
in rainwater harvesting practice,
Government agencies and the
mass media should promote
the benefits and importance
of rainwater harvesting and
utilization through campaigns
or by social media. Another
possible effective step to mainstreaming rainwater harvesting
is by incorporating rainwater
harvesting in the education
curriculum as an early awareness
programme.
On a much larger scale,
the concept of multi-purpose
rainwater management in a
city could be a proactive and
alternative solution for flooding
and water supply issues in
Malaysia. South Korea is
pursuing this solution through
“Rain Cities Programme” such
as the Seoul City Rainwater
Management and the Star City
Rainwater Harvesting System
Project (Han, 2007). The Star City

Programme, for example, took
the “No Regret Approach” which
is not only useful for efficient onsite flash flood control, drought
management, fire fighting and
landscaping but also helps
in climate change adaptation
and mitigation (reduction of
greenhouse gases via reduction
in energy use). At the same
time, research and development
in the utilisation of rainwater for
drinking and potable consumption should be expanded
and strengthened. Rainwater
harvesting systems, combined
with features such as permeable
pavements,
detention
and
retention ponds, rain gardens,
green roofs, green walls and
water features would not only
improve the health of urban an
environment by reducing water
pollution and urban heat island
effects but they could also
double up as storage facility for
conjunctive water supply.

Figure 6: Overview of Star City rainwater storage and management system (Han, 2