772
S.-Y. Chan et al.
3.7 Suggestion on Potential Use of Non-distilled Water
from Outlet of Distillation
A total of 84.7% of respondent support the recycling of non-distilled water from the
distillation outlet and 14.9% remain neutral. One person responded negatively and
disagreed with the recycling of the drained water. Out of the 84.7% who have agreed
on recycling the drained water, the majority suggest the potential use for general
washing. In response to open ended comment, some respondents have suggested the
potential use for car cleaning, gardening, and as a water reservoir for emergency use.
Only one respondent suggested to reprocess the non-distilled water as a drinkable
source of water.
4 Discussion
Water is essential daily life. In developing countries, water in research activities is
also essential in ensuring their development. On the one hand, research activities are
expected to assist with worldly development and progression, ironically, on the other
hand a tremendous amount of water was witnessed being drained down the sink.
Quality of the drained water was degraded and diminished instantly just because of
improper management of the water waste from the distillation processes. According
to the United Nations World Water Development Report 3, water resources management is directly linked to global crises. This could affect climate change, food
supplies, prices, energy and sanitation (Tran et al. 2016).
Poor sanitation in some countries is reported to cause 280,000 diarrheal deaths
annually due to disease transmission such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio (UNICEF 2017). The WHO fact sheet updated in July
2017 stated that, 842,000 people died as a result of inadequate water, sanitation and
hygiene annually. This number is equivalent to 2305 people dying per day due to
poor sanitation. Taking the basic requirement of 7.5 L water needed per person per
day suggested by WHO (WHO 2017), the amount of water drained from the water
distillation process by research institutions in USM is equivalent to the amount of
water required to support 9628 people in a day. This amount is more than enough to
save the lives of people from dying (to recap, 2305 people died per day) due to poor
sanitation. Based on the United Nations suggestion, a person shall only use 165 L per
person per day. This means that the drained water recorded from the current study
could supply up to 434 heads per day in normal daily household usage. This number
is almost equivalent to the supply of a whole block of an apartment with typical 14
floors of 8 unit per level occupied by 4 tenants.
Malaysia has been blessed by water resources. Every year, Malaysia receives
3000 mm
3 of rain fall which supplies 900 billion m
3 water resources (Abidin 2016).
Malaysians utilize water resources averaging 300 L in daily life which is twice the
benchmark mentioned by the United Nations. In Penang itself, water consumption
S.-Y. Chan et al.
3.7 Suggestion on Potential Use of Non-distilled Water
from Outlet of Distillation
A total of 84.7% of respondent support the recycling of non-distilled water from the
distillation outlet and 14.9% remain neutral. One person responded negatively and
disagreed with the recycling of the drained water. Out of the 84.7% who have agreed
on recycling the drained water, the majority suggest the potential use for general
washing. In response to open ended comment, some respondents have suggested the
potential use for car cleaning, gardening, and as a water reservoir for emergency use.
Only one respondent suggested to reprocess the non-distilled water as a drinkable
source of water.
4 Discussion
Water is essential daily life. In developing countries, water in research activities is
also essential in ensuring their development. On the one hand, research activities are
expected to assist with worldly development and progression, ironically, on the other
hand a tremendous amount of water was witnessed being drained down the sink.
Quality of the drained water was degraded and diminished instantly just because of
improper management of the water waste from the distillation processes. According
to the United Nations World Water Development Report 3, water resources management is directly linked to global crises. This could affect climate change, food
supplies, prices, energy and sanitation (Tran et al. 2016).
Poor sanitation in some countries is reported to cause 280,000 diarrheal deaths
annually due to disease transmission such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio (UNICEF 2017). The WHO fact sheet updated in July
2017 stated that, 842,000 people died as a result of inadequate water, sanitation and
hygiene annually. This number is equivalent to 2305 people dying per day due to
poor sanitation. Taking the basic requirement of 7.5 L water needed per person per
day suggested by WHO (WHO 2017), the amount of water drained from the water
distillation process by research institutions in USM is equivalent to the amount of
water required to support 9628 people in a day. This amount is more than enough to
save the lives of people from dying (to recap, 2305 people died per day) due to poor
sanitation. Based on the United Nations suggestion, a person shall only use 165 L per
person per day. This means that the drained water recorded from the current study
could supply up to 434 heads per day in normal daily household usage. This number
is almost equivalent to the supply of a whole block of an apartment with typical 14
floors of 8 unit per level occupied by 4 tenants.
Malaysia has been blessed by water resources. Every year, Malaysia receives
3000 mm
3 of rain fall which supplies 900 billion m
3 water resources (Abidin 2016).
Malaysians utilize water resources averaging 300 L in daily life which is twice the
benchmark mentioned by the United Nations. In Penang itself, water consumption