Open AccessWater usage behaviour: Case study in a southern state in Peninsular Malaysia
Author(s) -
Nur Shazwani Muhammad,
Jazuri Abdullah,
Norzaura Abd Rahman,
N. A. Razali
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/646/1/012017
Subject(s) - toilet , rainwater harvesting , per capita , cistern , bathing , consumption (sociology) , potable water , business , shower , water use , water consumption , hygiene , water resource management , socioeconomics , environmental science , environmental health , environmental engineering , geography , engineering , economics , medicine , mechanical engineering , ecology , population , social science , archaeology , pathology , sociology , nozzle , biology
Generally, Malaysia’s per capita water consumption is high. Therefore, this study perform a thorough investigation on a water consumption that is related to a middle-class community in Malaysia, which accounts for the highest income group in the country. Specifically, we focused on three major categories, i.e. domestic water-usage activities, water habits of the community, and water-saving efforts that can be easily adopted. The main source of data was collected using structured interview method. The frequency of indoor water usage of more than four times a day was high, which suggested that most people did not control their water consumption, especially for cooking, bathing/showering, toilet usage, and dish washing. Community awareness in terms of water-saving efforts is low, as indicated by the respondents that uses dual-pump cisterns in their toilets and employs rainwater-harvesting system for non-potable use. Low water tariff in the study area may discouraged the residents to practice water-saving measures. The findings from this study are important, particularly in understanding the activities and habits associated with high water usage. Additionally, the relevant stakeholders can use these findings to formulate a pro-active action plan to achieve the water usage of 165 litres/capita/day recommended by the World Health Organization.