Manufacturing needs it, our coffee has it; we use it to clean, to grow food and 70% of our body is made of it. I am, of course, talking about water. We often assume that water will always flow from an opened tap, as much as we assume the sun will rise, and that our aunt will always brag about our doctor cousin at gatherings. But is it really a given? Will we always have access to as much clean water as we need?

Water—the stuff of life. We don’t think about it, but could we run out of it?

Research shows that the growth in population and rapid urbanisation of Malaysia has decreased water availability for each person (source). The World Resource Institute has even projected a 1.4 times increase in water stress levels, by 2020, for KL and 8 states in West Malaysia (source). Meanwhile, Malaysians are still using 201 L of water per person per day, much higher than the UN recommended 165 L (source).

There are 229 polluted/ somewhat polluted rivers in Malaysia (source).

Malaysia draws drinking water from its rivers, however clean rivers are diminishing due to increasing pollution.

Photo credit: Flickr

Whilst Malaysia has been trying to improve water treatment and encourage better practices at the industrial level, consumers can also contribute by reducing their water usage. One initiative that helps consumers save both the environment and their wallets is the Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme (WEPLS) initiated by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).

What is WEPLS

WEPLS is an effort to register and label the water efficiency of water consuming products. This is done both to encourage consumers to purchase more water efficient products, as well as to encourage suppliers and manufacturers to bring in or develop more of said water efficient products. The initiative was started in 2013 on a voluntary basis as it was not feasible to enforce on short notice. However, as of 2019, laws are being drafted to make the WEPLS mandatory for all local products and imports (source).

SPAN brochures explaining WEPLS in both BM and English. Credit: SPAN

For now, the WEPLS covers the following fixtures and appliances:

    1) Basin taps and mixers

    2) Sink taps and mixers

    3) Shower taps and mixers

    4) Ablution taps and mixers

    5) Water closets

    6) Urinal equipment

    7) Shower heads

    8) Clothes washing machine

The Label

The label must display the following information:

    1) Star rating indicating its water efficiency

    2) WEPLS registration number

    3) product information such as brand, model and water consumption.

The label also comes in two formats: “Full” and “Simplified”. The former is affixed on product packaging, while the latter can be affixed or hung on the actual product.

WEPLS rating guidelines

The products are rated from 1-3 stars. Unlike the previously covered MEPS, a product that has qualified for even 1 star, is considered water efficient. However, like the MEPS, the more stars, the better. For a list of tables giving the criterion of the respective product types, refer to the appendix.

1. Moving forward

2. When implemented, using more water efficient products, has been shown to help save a lot of water (source). Now that you know more about the WEPLS labels, be sure to make use of it to save money and protect the environment.

With regards to electronics specifically, if you want to learn more about saving water with washing machines, do check out this link (hint: front loaders save more water).

For more information about WEPLS, as well as an assessment on water efficiency labels and efforts around the world, click on the links in the references.

References

SPAN’s official WEPLS site:

https://www.span.gov.my/article/view/about-wepls

WEPLS Guidelines:

https://www.span.gov.my/document/upload/3D7k8p3wzfbVyOkl1PqQ3hDCkGL8mOMU.pdf

Review of international water efficiency product labelling:

https://iwa-network.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IWA-EUWM-Labelling-Report_Final-002.pdf

WEPLS successes and updates on law:

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/02/22/span-law-on-labelling-and-use-of-water-efficient-devices-being-drafted

The looming water crisis:

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/26/a-water-crisis-could-occur

Appendix