PETALING JAYA: She used to take 20 minutes in the shower or longer if she was singing.  Sometimes, the tap would be left running while she brushed her teeth.

Uthraa lyer now wants to spend less time in the bathroom and start conserving water, including turning the tap off while she brushes her teeth.

The 11-year-old student is one of thousands of Malaysians who use five times more than the average quantity of water supply. 

The Japan International Cooperation Agency, after conducting a study on the water industry and resources in Malaysia in 2003, recommended a daily average usage of about 100 litres per person.

But, according to the Global Environment Centre's (GEC) river care programme co-ordinator Dr. K. Kalithasan, Malaysians are using about 500 litres per person, daily.

"Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest level of water consumption with Selangor having to buy water from Pahang to make up for its shortfall."

"The public must be persuaded to change their ways in order to reduce water wastage."  he said at a water conservation workshop held in SMK (P) Sri Aman here yesterday."

About 50 primary and secondary school students attended the workshop in conjunction with the National Water Conservation Campaign.

 The campaign was jointly organnised by the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) and the GEC and is funded by the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry.

 The students from SMK(P) Sri Aman, SJK (C) Puay Chai, SJK (T) Vivekananda, SK Taman Sea, SMK Taman Medan and SMK Sri Utama participated in activities including water way mapping, water quality study and river health check.

Kalithasan said the Sg Penchala river, located behind the school, was unique as the water was drinkable although it had been classified as a dead river.

"However, it is possible to improve the quality of the river which has been polluted by industrial waste, by getting the small and medium enterprises which are located upstream, to work with us," he said.

Kalithasan does not expect an overnight change through the campaign but hopes teachers and students will not only educate others about water conservaiton but also put it into action.

Fomca environment manager Loga Sunthri Veeraiah said the two-year national campaign, which began in July 2006, would continue with more activities.  The next workshop is to be held in Perak next month.