Selangor Water Crisis - Getting cooperation in conserving water

August 5, 2014 – KK Aw

The Sungei Selangor dam that supplies about 60% of the water for the State of Selangor is approaching critical levels, even after the goal posts have been moved.  Over the last few days, volume of water has dropped by another percent to 32.48% (5.8.2014).  The Selangor government and other concerned citizens have called for consumers to conserve water.  Not surprisingly, quite a few vocal people are also giving comments and suggestions in the social media on this issue. 

Are the consumers responding?  Unfortunately, I have found no information on this.  Presumably, the call has been ignored as the water level is still dropping rapidly.  We need to save water now if we are not going to be faced with long periods of water rationing.  The problem can therefore be reframed as “getting cooperation in conserving water.”   

Humans are considered the super cooperators by evolutionary biologists and behavior philosophers.  We reign supreme over all the other animal species because of our ability to communicate and cooperate.  However, we must not forget the tragedy of the commons or the issues of public good.  Technically, water supply cannot be considered as a common but because of its low price, but to rich people and organizations, there is little difference.  Conserving water during the dry seasons is for public good.

The scientists have discovered that there are rules that promote and destroy cooperation.  The first ingredient of cooperation is information.  If the water-supply  organization does not provide us timely information related to this issue, it is unlikely that the consumers will be bothered to respond.

People also react positively if they feel that their reputation is at stake.  The water distribution organizations should analyze their customers records and provide us information on water consumption by domestic,  commercial and industrial users.  The analysis can include information such as:

1.  The distribution of consumption of water in different parts of the Klang valley down to the housing estates level or business district or building. This will allow us to know which location the water hogs are residing and which other locations are conserving water.
2.  For domestic consumers, they can identify the highest water users within the water hogs housing estates.  The water hogs should be identified by the roads the live in together with their profile.  Their profile can include the type and size of the building, swimming pools, size of their gardens, use of water sprinklers and so on.  The profile may be sufficient for the people living within the vicinity to identify the guilty parties.

It is likely that the water hogs consumption is very significant compare to the others.  Hence targeting them  would be more effective as compared to targeting everybody.

Just the thought that they are observed can be very persuasive.  Hopefully, the fact that they can be identified will make them feel sufficiently guilty to take the necessary actions to reduce their water consumption.