Rivers, lakes and wells represent a key source of water in Southeast Asia. However, they are threatened by pollution due to a lack of wastewater treatment and massive leakages into the water table.

Rapid population growth in urban Asian cities have placed severe pressure on water companies. Estimates reveal non-revenue water losses of about 50-65%, due to unauthorised consumption, inacuurate metering or pipe leakages.

Cities in Southeast Asia use different models to price water for household consumption. The state of Sabah in Malaysia adopts a flat rate scheme, while cities like Singapore, Manila, Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Penang price their water according to blocks.

Debates on sustainable cost recovery and marginal cost pricing are ongoing and it is unclear which system is superior or better for the poor in Asia.

million cubic metres of urine a year

million tons of faeces a year

billion cubic metres of greywatera year

This is what it costs to install a water pipe in Manila. Equivalent to more than three years’ worth of vended water, it is a heavy investment for people living on a day-to-day subsistence basis.

In urban Philippines, only 60% of the population have piped water. Water companies are reluctant to supply to slums, because the act of doing so may “legalise” the informal settlements.

In 2007, only 7% of the population in Manila are connected to a sewerage system.

About 40% of the population in urban Cambodia are forced to practice open defaecation due to lack of access to basic sanitation.

Those who cannot afford piped water often turn to small-scale private providers. In 2003, they supplied water to 44% of the population in Jakarta, at a much higher cost.

There is little regulation and no guarantee of the water quality.

Five drums of water, which can last a person for 20 days, can cost up to US$3 in Manila. The same amount of water from a pipe would cost about US$0.20.

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SourcesUNSGAB (2009). Singapore International Water Week - "Sustainable Cities, Infrastructure and Technologies for Water". Retrieved December 3, 2011 from http://www.unsgab.org/about/docs/chair_090623.htm.

UN Water (2011). Statistics: Graphs & Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2012 from: http://www.unwater.org/statistics_san.html.

Drinking Cooking Cleaning

How do they get water?

the cost of piped wateracross the region