NGOS had also severely criticised the state government for refusing to increase water tariffs and had also dismissed the Water Conservation Surcharge(WCS) imposed on those who waste water as grossly inadequate. In November 2010, PBAPP introduced a Water Conservation Surcharge (WCS) of RM0.24 per 1,000 litres for consumption above 35,000 litres per month to curb domestic water wastage.
Whilst accepting the criticisms by the NGOs that the water tariffs and WCS is too low and inadequate, the drop of a mere six litres per person per day is still significant because this is the first reduction in per capita domestic consumption since 2004. DESPITE the 6-litre per capita drop in domestic water consumption (3.2 billion litres) to 285 l/c/d in 2011, Penang is far behind the national average consumption of 203 l/c/d. Although 285 l/c/d in 2011 is less than 291 l/c/d in 2010, we are still well off the target set for 2011. Just to remind everyone, our target for 2011 was 233 l/c/d.