Johor to build S$1.5 billion reservoirs & water treatment plants to reduce dependency on S'pore

Malaysia will be injecting more than RM5 billion (S$1.5 billion) to construct three reservoirs and three water treatment plants in Johor Bahru, as the state aims to cut its reliance on treated water imports from Singapore by 2030.

The three reservoirs will be built along Sungai Johor, Sungai Pontian Besar, and Sungai Sedili Besar, with a projected combined cost of more than RM1.6 billion (S$482 million), New Straits Times reported.

The three water treatment plants, which will expand Johor's treated water supply by 41 per cent to 3,061 MLD per day, will cost about RM3.5 billion (S$1 billion).

The three reservoirs will be funded by the federal Malaysian government, while the three water treatment plants will be funded by the Johor state government through water operator Ranhill SAJ.

Zero Dependency Project

The two projects are an important part of Malaysia's Zero Dependency Project, which aims to reduce the country's reliance on treated water from Singapore after 2030, said Johor's Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure, and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.

The new reservoirs will meet the increasing demand from the population and industries, with the immediate focus on supporting the growth of industries in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

Johor currently imports about 16 million gallons of treated water daily from Singapore, substantially more than the 5 million gallons daily required under the 1962 Johor River Water Agreement.

Malaysia’s Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said on Dec 2, 2024 that treating the same amount of water locally would cost about RM1.80 (S$0.54) per cubic metre, while Singapore's treated water costs about RM0.11 (S$0.03) per cubic metre.

Achieve self-sufficiency

While there are benefits in continuing to purchase treated water from Singapore, Johor is determined to achieve self-sufficiency, especially as industrial demand grows.

Johor has already given approval for 17 new data centres, which will need about 59.06 million litres of treated water daily.

According to The Straits Times, this would account for 2.7 per cent of Johor's total treated water capacity.

Johor Investment and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said that by 2030, the state could host up to 30 data centres, highlighting the need for a sustainable water strategy.

Townships such as Iskandar Puteri, Kulai, and Tanjung Langsat Industrial Hub are undergoing massive development, each requiring a major water supply.

Johor plans to increase the state's water reserve margin by 10 to 15 per cent to support growth and address potential emergencies.

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