With a rapid rise in urban growth, Southeast Asia is slated to experience water stress issues, especially access to safe drinking water.
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Southeast Asia is home to 60% of the world population. The region is also expecting a rapid rise in urbanisation growth in the coming years, which is going to trigger a huge demand for water. The region appears unprepared for such scenarios however, as experts predicts a shortfall of 40%, where water supply is unable to meet demand. This will worsen the water stress issues already present in the region, where more than 100 million people in Southeast Asia live without access to safe drinking water.
Droughts are also an ever-present threat in the region. Due to the effects of global warming, the severity of droughts is at a record high. This heightens water security issues and other cascading effects, such as decreased food production, loss of livelihoods, forced migration and regional instability. It also disproportionately affects the poor people of Southeast Asia the most.
The water supply in Southeast Asia is also under threat from pollution coming from chemicals, industrial waste and untreated sewage. In a United Nations report, as much as 80% of the river water in Asia-Pacific is polluted. The pollution comes from a wide range of sources, such as untreated sewage, agricultural runoff or sediments washed from degraded land by heavy rainfall.
Another critical issue affecting ASEAN lies in its water infrastructure. Many countries are suffering from the lack of infrastructure such as water treatment plants or modern distribution networks.
Only 20% of households in Indonesia have access to piped water.
With a wastewater treatment rate at only 15%, the water infrastructure in Vietnam is not ideal.
In the Philippines, 11 million families lack access to clean water during the dry seasons.
For example, only 20% of households in Indonesia have access to piped water. According to water.org, 192 million Indonesians lack access to clean, safe water.
The water infrastructure in Vietnam is also not ideal. With a wastewater treatment rate at only 15%, Vietnam requires around US$9 billion worth of infrastructure investment for water treatment and drainage.
Malaysia’s National Resource Water Study predicts that by 2050, the demand for water will increase by 103% for domestic and industrial usage, and the agricultural sector. The country is also wary of the threat of droughts come 2030 and is looking into reclaiming water to mitigate the crisis.
And in the Philippines, 11 million families lack access to clean water during the dry seasons, sourcing water from unsanitary deep wells, rivers, lakes and rainwater. Some parts of the country would experience water service interruptions for weeks due to the El Nino phenomenon in the past few years.
Even Singapore, with its substantial capabilities in water treatment and desalination, remain wary of water stress issues as its water demand could almost double by 2065.
To mitigate water scarcity, governments have turned to technological solutions. Some of the most notable solutions include the desalination of seawater, reclaiming waste water through treatment and reducing leakages in the water system.
Technological solutions can help with water scarcity
For example, Hitachi was at the forefront of developing seawater desalination capabilities for Singapore, having partnered with the local utilities board during its initial phase. The process of desalination takes place by purifying seawater using micro-filtration and reverse osmosis to create ultra-clean water that is safe enough to drink.
Hitachi’s seawater desalination solution has helped many countries with their water supply issues in the Maldives and the Middle East. It has also acted as a source of water for international hotel chains on some islands Southeast Asia.
Hitachi partnered with Singapore’s utilities board in the initial phase of its seawater desalination development.
Hitachi is collaborating with Maynilad Water Services to raise their wastewater treatment rate to 50%.
Hitachi has re-developed its seawater desalination technology, so it can be deployed rapidly with minimal setup efforts.
Hitachi is also set to announce the imminent launch of a wastewater treatment facility in Manila. This facility is a collaboration with Maynilad Water Services and it will raise their wastewater treatment rate to 50%, an unprecedented step forward in their water journey.
Mako Kobayashi, General Manager for Water & Environment at Hitachi Asia Ltd. Philippine Branch, shares her experience as a Manila resident, “It is a great way to help with the water issues in Manila.”
In addition, Hitachi has re-developed its seawater desalination technology to fit the needs of islands with limited access to safe water. The modular seawater desalination technology can be retro-fitted into containers and deployed rapidly with minimal setup efforts.
Hitachi believes technology will play a key role as we move forward into a sustainable future, one where everyone will get to enjoy access to clean, safe water.
This is social innovation in action.
Date of Release: December 2024
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