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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Malaysia

Progress on achieving SDG 6

The majority of Malaysians, regardless of location, have access to basic amenities and facilities such as access to clean water and electricity. The availability of piped water in households is almost universal at 95.9 % in Malaysia in 2019. The rate is relatively lower in rural areas at 84.7 % compared to 98.7 % in urban areas.

As a water-rich country, water sources are mainly from surface water (80.8 %) from rivers, and dams (17.9%), while groundwater only represent 1.2%. Four indicators demonstrate the status of water efficiency in the country, namely domestic water consumption, non-revenue water (NRW), reserve margin and water tariff.

In 2020, domestic water consumption for Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan was 245 liters per capita per day, which is relatively high, compared with the UN benchmark of daily water requirement at 165 liters per person per day. The high level of water usage is attributed to the very low water tariff where Malaysians pay on average, which is among the lowest in Southeast Asia.

Water Security is also threatened as climate change affected water infrastructure. Damage of water infrastructure or changes in water resources availability can affect water supply with more than 97% of water supply being derived from surface water in rivers and reservoirs.

During the rainy seasons in 2013 and 2014, water levels in several dams increased above critical levels resulting in excess water releases, contributing to the downstream flooding.

Read the full report here: VNR_Report_Malaysia

 

*The information reflected on this page has been taken directly from the official VNR received from this Member State. The information does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations.

 

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