Brunei has a population of 408,786 people (2014 population census) within an area of 5,765 sq. km and has an average population growth rate of 1.7%. The annual rainfall in the country is 2,500mm along the coast and more than 4,000mm in the hilly interior. It has a tropical climate all year-round with high humidity.
The following is an overview of the IWRM status in Brunei for the key water management issues in Brunei.
- Water Supply Management
Water supply management in Brunei is the responsibility of the Water Services Department/Public Works Department (DWS/PWD) under the Ministry of Development.
Table 1 shows the status of water supply management in Brunei for the year 2010 and 2014 for six key indicators.
![Table 1 - Brunei Water Supply Indicators](/iwrm/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Table-1-Brunei-Water-Supply-Indicators.jpg)
The following is a list of the initiatives carried out by DWS/PWD since the 1970s that has enabled Brunei to achieve the MDG and the WHO standard for water supply services.
- To achieve Millennium Development Goal by 2000.
- To achieve 99% potable piped water to population of the country.
- To attain WHO quality standard on drinking water.
- Adapt to climate change
- Two barrage for main river source constructed to prevent saline intrusion and regulate river flow during long drought.
The following is a list of actions that have been taken by the DWS/PWD to promote IWRM in Brunei.
- Carried out water demand and supplies studies to ensure the timely construction of water supply dams and treatment plants
- Enforcement of Land Act, Town and Country Planning Acts, Water Act, Environment Acts to safeguard the water catchment from pollution
- Carried out Water Resource Studies to identify potential water resources beyond 2035
- Constructed two barrages were in response to the potential impacts of climate change.
![Tutong Barrage, Brunei](/iwrm/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tutong-Barrage-Brunei.jpg)
The water supply management challenges faced by the DWS/PWD are the increasing water demand due to (a) Increased in population/social development, (b) Industry development & growth and (c) Economic development & growth. Also, there are excessive water leakage and wastage in the water supply system and high capital consumption with a low water tariff that does not encourage water saving habits.
In order to encourage water conservation with a target to reduce the per capita water consumption from 420 litres/day to 350 litres/day within 3 years a Water Conservation Unit (WCU) has been created in 2012. The following are the list of activities of the WCU:
- Set the KPI on per capita consumption per day. Target NRW reduction by 5% by 2015/2016.
- Promote water savings habits through traditional media, social media, school and private-partnership (MOU).
- Install water-efficient devices & sanitary fittings.
- Promote rain-water harvesting.
- Organize water-conservation event – WWD, REACH.
- Distribution of water conservation kits- thimbles, leaflets.
![Water Conservation Activities in Brunei](http://aseaniwrm.water.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Water-Conservation-Activities-in-Brunei.jpg)
To support its mission and address the above water supply management challenges the WSD/PWD implements the following Capacity Building and Risk Management/Robustness activities.
- Strengthen Human Resource Development through training programs and seminars.
- Attachment with other International Corporation such as PUB, Singapore and Tokyo Water Institute.
- Good governance, Strategic planning & KPI program.
- Risk management/Robustness
- Auditing Critical Operational Assets for backup systems against major failure such as pumps, power supply and control panels.
- Public Health Assurance: ensured by periodical two hourly testing at water treatment plants and at random by third party (MOH) at consumer points.
- Enhancement of Water Quality Monitoring with new water lab and 11 additional new water quality parameters.
- Dam safety and monitoring system through engagement of International dam safety experts.
The long term development goals of the WSD/PWD are as follows:
- Ensure continuous, safe, reliable, adequate water supply
- Reviewing Legislative Acts & enhance enforcement
- Improve robustness (risk management)
- Promote effective operating environment & capacity building
- Adopt best practices and management tools
- Reduce NRW
- Increase water conservation activities
- Moving towards e-Governance for improvement
- Adopting and innovate the best practice in IWRM
- Water Sanitation Management
Water sanitation management in Brunei is the responsibility of the Department of Drainage and Sewerage/Public Works Department (DDS/PWD) under the Ministry of Development. The following tables show the status of water sanitation management in Brunei for the year 2009 and 2013 for nine key indicators.
![Brunei - Water Sanitation Indicators - 3](/iwrm/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Brunei-Water-Sanitation-Indicators-3.jpg)
The figure below shows the water sanitation coverage in Brunei. It can be seen that 92% of Brunei’s population are served by the public sewerage system and septic tanks.
![Brunei - Sanitation Coverage](/iwrm/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Brunei-Sanitation-Coverage.jpg)
The figure below shows the sewerage asset coverage in Brunei whereby the country has been divided into 24 sewerage catchments.
![Brunei - Sewerage Asset Coverage](/iwrm/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Brunei-Sewerage-Asset-Coverage.jpg)
The following are the water sanitation issues in Brunei:
- Jurisdiction Issues – There is a lack of public awareness on the jurisdiction and maintenance responsibility for water sanitation.
- 10% of the population are still without proper basic water sanitation (direct discharge of sewage into the ground or water courses)
- High infiltration of sewage to the ground due to broken or decaying sewerage pipes.
- Construction and maintenance of public sewerage systems e.g. issues of house connection, sewerage systems to be kept in proper order at cost of owners and line of jurisdiction.
- Damage caused to public sewers by the public
- Regulations to protect the public sewers
- Sewer Protection Zone – No person shall carry out any works, either permanent or temporary, within the sewer protection zone without the prior written approval of DDS.
- Sewer Setbacks – No buildings and structures shall be erected over or within the sewer setbacks.
- Discharge of sewage effluent from STP and septic tank.
- Currently the British Royal Commission discharge standard used for STP only.
- No standard discharge for septic tank.
- Max allowable concentrations (Trade Effluent Regulations)
- Grease Trap to be provided at all eating establishment
- Desludging shall be undertaken regularly and all records shall be kept and given copy to DDS.
- Trade effluent from car workshops discharged into public sewerage system or any drain-line
- Prohibition on discharge of dangerous or hazardous substances or trade effluent containing dangerous or hazardous substance.
The following are the policies and legislation on water sanitation in Brunei:
- Drainage and Sewerage Act in process of enactment
- Currently share/link under other Acts i.e. :
- Town and Country Planning Act 1972, Chapter 143, Revised Edition 1984
- Land Code Revised Chapter 40, Revised Edition 1984
- Water Supply Act, Chapter 121, 1962
- Municipal Boards Act, Chapter 57, 1921
- Minor Offences Act, Chapter 30, 1929
- Building Guidelines and Requirement under PBD 12, 2008 (Second Edition)
- Pollution Control Guidelines for Industrial Development – JASTRE/MOD/2002
The figure below shows an example of the water sanitation improvement strategies in Brunei.
![Brunei - Water Sanitation Improvement Strategies](/iwrm/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Brunei-Water-Sanitation-Improvement-Strategies.jpg)
The figure below shows an example of other initiatives to improve the water sanitation system in Brunei.
![Brunei - Water Sanitation Improvement (Other Initiatives)](/iwrm/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Brunei-Water-Sanitation-Improvement-Other-Initiatives.jpg)
The following are the river water quality monitoring activities carried out in Brunei.
- Increase river water sampling frequency & stations, from current 10 locations along Sungai Brunei twice a month, to include also the drainage/stormwater outfalls at commercial and high density residential areas
- Improvement for sewerage laboratory management and practices; ISO certifications (ISO 17025 and ISO 14002) & increase water quality parameters
The figure below shows the Water Sanitation Action Plans of Brunei.