KUALA LUMPUR: The government should consider adopting smart water meters nationwide to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) losses, said Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (PH–Gombak).
He said pilot projects in Selangor had proven that smart meter technology could significantly reduce water losses caused by leakage and inefficiencies in distribution systems.
“For example, we conducted a test in an area called Bukit Jelutong. In that area, the NRW rate was recorded at 27 per cent.
“This means that for every treated litre of water, 27 per cent was lost due to pipe bursts or malfunctioning pipes.
“After we implemented smart meters, we managed to reduce it to a single-digit figure between eight and nine per cent,” he said during the debate session on the 2026 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat
He added that the cost of installing smart meters remained high due to taxes imposed on related equipment, which currently increased the price from about RM300 per unit to between RM500 and RM600.
“I propose that the government review the taxation of strategic items such as smart meters and other equipment related to reducing NRW.
“If import or SST taxes can be reduced, operational costs for water service providers would become more efficient,” he said.
Amirudin said lower taxation would not only reduce the cost of water treatment but also help guarantee a consistent 24-hour water supply, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets.
He said Selangor had successfully reduced its NRW rate from 36 per cent to 27 per cent, becoming the second-lowest in the country after Johor at 25 per cent.
“The experience shows that when technology is applied effectively, we can make significant progress,” he said.
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