Latest news with #AdamSaffian
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Air Selangor on right track in curbing treated water loss
PETALING JAYA: Non-revenue water (NRW) in Selangor has continued to decline, dropping from 31% in 2017 to 27% in 2024, as Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) steps up its infrastructure investments and operational initiatives. Air Selangor CEO Adam Saffian Ghazali told theSun the state's NRW rate remains below the national average, reflecting effective water management strategies. 'On a national level, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation minister, Malaysia's NRW stood at 37.1% as of 2023,' he said. However, Selangor's NRW rate remains above the globally recommended threshold of 25%, the benchmark for efficient water utilities in developing countries, as set by the World Bank and the International Water Association. The current 27% NRW rate translates to a daily loss of 298.36 million litres of treated water, prompting Air Selangor to target a reduction to 25% by 2030. This will be achieved through pipe replacement projects and a public reporting campaign via its mobile app and website. In addition to technology upgrades, Adam Saffian said the company plans to increase manpower to strengthen leak detection cabability. He added that limited resources within its Active Leakage Control (ALC) team remain a challenge in addressing NRW effectively. 'The current 261 ALC personnel are not enough to combat NRW and further bring down leakage rates. 'We plan to raise the number of inspectors from 187 to 210 to boost detection efforts across the pipe network in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, covering more than 160,000 potential leak cases.' He added that Air Selangor also aims to instal pressure transient technology on main pipelines to detect leaks at an earlier stage. 'This will allow immediate repair works to be carried out, preventing prolonged supply disruptions. The technology is already in use by water operators in developed countries such as Singapore, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.' As of March last year, 636.55km of old pipelines have been replaced across Selangor. 'We aimed to increase pipe replacement to 300km annually starting in 2024, ramping up to 400km per year from 2034 onwards, to fully replace 5,000km of asbestos cement pipes within the next 15 years.' Adam Saffian said despite ongoing NRW challenges, with capital investment for physical and commercial loss reduction alone reaching up to RM450 million annually, Air Selangor continues to see positive developments. It is the only utility company in Malaysia inducted into the Leading Utilities of the World (LUOW) network. 'NRW was one of the core innovation areas we highlighted during our LUOW induction presentation at the Global Water Summit in Paris recently.' Adam Saffian said under its 30-year business plan, Air Selangor is leveraging its own capital expenditure to implement key initiatives that will enhance operational efficiency across its service areas. 'The plan, which spans from Operating Period 1 in 2019 to Operating Period 10 in 2049, outlines a projected total investment of RM35 billion.' In recognition of its NRW reduction efforts, Air Selangor received a RM326 million remuneration incentive under the National NRW Programme. 'This was awarded in recognition of our consistent and effective work in reducing the NRW rate to 27.7% during the 2023 evaluation period. Since 2019, we have received a total of RM688.68 million in matching grants from the federal government,' he said.
The Star
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Firm gets RM326mil for measures to reduce non-revenue water
(Front row) Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (third from right), Adam Saffian (fourth from right), Air Selangor NRW head Kelvin Siew (second from left) with other VIPs and guests during the incentive presentation ceremony. Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) has received a remuneration incentive of RM326mil under the National Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Programme. This was in recognition of its consistent and effective efforts in reducing the NRW rate for the 2023 assessment year. Air Selangor is the main water utility provider in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor. It is also the largest water services provider in the country. The company began NRW reduction activities in-house in 2017 when it reduced the NRW level to 33.2%. In 2023, it recorded a reduction in the NRW level to 27.7%. This achievement also exceeded the NRW Matching Grant target of 28.5% set by National Water Services Commission (SPAN). This government grant is an incentive to support water service providers in achieving the NRW reduction targets set by SPAN. Air Selangor achieved the reduction thanks to several internal initiatives carried out since 2017. Among these were the launch of the 'Report Leaks' campaign which encouraged the public to identify and promptly report water leaks. This saw 95,811 public-reported leaks successfully repaired between August 2023 and March 2025. Last year, Air Selangor increased the number of Leak Inspectors from 187 to 210, leading to the detection of more than 160,000 leak cases across its pipe network. The company also implemented the 'Active Leakage Control Programme' which added 100 district metering zones annually, with the aim of achieving 80% coverage by 2028. Additionally, a 'Pipe Replacement Programme' and pressure management measures have contributed to a reduction in the Pipe Burst Index of 3.25 pipe bursts per 100km, compared to the global benchmark of 13 bursts per 100km. Air Selangor also introduced 20 pressure management zones annually. This helped to reduce excessive pressure in the system, lowering risk of leaks and pipe bursts. To detect leaks within the reticulation pipe system, the company uses a permanent monitoring system. Called the' Leak Noise Correlating Logger', it enables repair actions as soon as data shows a leak. The use of 'Pressure Transient' technology on main pipes was started to enable earlier leak detection, allowing fast repair works aimed at preventing water supply disruptions. This technology is also used by water operators in Singapore, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Air Selangor also reports less commercial losses, including customer meter replacements and enforcement actions against illegal connections. Air Selangor chief executive officer Adam Saffian Ghazali said the incentive payout was the fourth under the National NRW Programme. 'We are truly honoured by this recognition of the efforts we have undertaken. 'Air Selangor will continue to strengthen our NRW reduction initiatives to enhance operational efficiency for the benefit of 9.62 million consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. 'Moving forward, Air Selangor will work towards achieving its NRW reduction target of 25% by 2030,' said Adam Saffian. Air Selangor also urges the public to promptly report incidents of leaking or burst pipes, illegal pipe connections, or meter manipulations. They can do so via Air Selangor 2.0 mobile app, Air Selangor's official social media channels, or
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Air Selangor App now lets users report leaks in real time
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 9.62 million water consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya can now report pipe leakages through the upgraded Air Selangor 2.0 app, effective today, said Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) chief executive officer Adam Saffian Ghazali. He said the improved mobile application now features a 'Report Leaks' function, allowing users to report leaking or burst pipes, faulty meters, and illegal connections in real time. 'This initiative aims to reduce the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) rate and ensure more efficient water management,' he said in a statement today. He said the Air Selangor 2.0 app was revealed during the MADANI Smart Water Campaign launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof earlier today. Adam Saffian added that the app also includes a water usage monitoring feature through the Litres per Capita per Day (LCD) indicator, allowing consumers to assess and manage their daily water consumption. 'They can compare their consumption against the benchmark recommended by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), which is 160 litres per day, and receive water-saving tips tailored to their household profile,' he said. According to Adam Saffian, Air Selangor has implemented multiple digital initiatives as part of its sustainability commitment to promoting smart water usage among consumers. On the MADANI Smart Water Campaign conducted by SPAN and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, he said it is a national initiative to nurture prudent water usage among the public to ensure water supply sustainability. He said the campaign aligns with the memorandum of collaboration signed between Air Selangor and Monsta Studios Sdn Bhd in April to bolster efforts to raise water-saving awareness among the younger generation. The three-year collaboration aims to implement more creative programmes and activities involving the younger generation to raise awareness about water conservation from an early age, he added.
The Star
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Empowering schoolkids to save water brings rewards
HEADMASTER Md Zainudin Ngadiman and teacher Rashide Roziman of SK Polis Depot Kuala Lumpur decided to teach their pupils about water conservation by making them peer educators. Zainudin and Rashide encouraged the pupils to act out water-saving methods in one-minute videos for social media to promote awareness of the importance of water conservation. Zainudin then submitted the content to the 'Save Water Mission together with BoBoiBoy' competition last year. BoBoiBoy is a Malaysian animated television series created by Monsta Studios that sees the main character involved in water conservation. Thanks to the pupils' efforts and creativity, SK Polis Depot Kuala Lumpur won the competition by Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, earning the school RM15,000 worth of beautification work. Three consolation winners – Azan Integrated Islamic School in Sepang, SK Seri Fajar in Kuala Kubu Bharu and SK Taman Tasik in Ampang – each won RM5,000 for school beautification, with prizes handed out by Air Selangor chief executive officer Adam Saffian Ghazali at the ceremony in Subang Jaya. SK Polis Depot Kuala Lumpur pupils Nur Hawa Syaurah Hasrin Faisal and Afiq Irfan Mohd Khairy, both 12, said with the hotter weather, water was a valuable resource that could not be wasted. Afiq Irfan said the knowledge he had gained was being shared beyond the classroom, as he was informing his neighbours about the issue as well. Adam Saffian said last year's competition was open to primary schools but this year, the competition in conjunction with World Environment Day in June, will be open to both primary and secondary schools. At the event, Air Selangor signed a memorandum of collaboration with Monsta Studios to strengthen joint efforts in promoting water-conservation awareness. Adam Saffian said the memorandum outlined a three-year collaboration, starting from this year until 2027. 'We aim to implement various programmes and produce a series of cartoons over the next three years to instil sustainability values,' he said. Monsta Studios managing director Kee Yong Pin said Monsta remained committed to raising awareness and educating on water conservation.
