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KUALA LUMPUR: A comprehensive study will be conducted under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) to test the usability of groundwater as an alternative source of water, the senate was told, Wednesday. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said the study by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience would cover two major factors related to the water source. “In an effort to ensure it is really safe to use, the study will emphasise identifying arsenic in the groundwater sources in gold mining areas. “Focus is also on groundwater sources in frequently flooded areas as it may be contaminated and can affect the health,” he said in reply to a question from Senator Norliza Abdul Rahim. Norliza wanted to know whether the ministry intended to study the use of groundwater as an alternative of water to overcome water shortage during the dry season. Dawos said the ministry did not stop states from tapping groundwater as an alternative source but it should be done properly as not all was clean and safe to use. In addition, the methods used to draw groundwater should not adversely affect the environment. The media had reported that a study conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 1982 said that Malaysia is estimated to have about 5,000 billion cubic metres of groundwater reserves. The study said only three per cent of the groundwater reserves had been used. Meanwhile, a study conducted by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage in 2011 found that seven percent or 64 billion cubic metres of annual rainfall is stored underground. – Bernama
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