SYNOPSIS

The ever increasing demand for water due to population growth has put a strain on the traditional sources of water. Rapid urbanisation and increase in population has exhausted traditional water resource for cities such as from dams and river catchments. There is a paradigm shift in the utilisation of water resource and the age old practice of harvesting rainwater is being reintroduced as a sustainable source of water. Why capture water from a long distance away, pumped through long distance pipelines, chemically treat the water to be used for toilet flushing, cleaning and gardening? Rainwater can be captured where it falls on the roofs and pavements, stored and used within the premises. “Using the Water at Source” is the most effective sustainable method of water supply; reducing carbon footprint and preventing environmental degradation.

To successfully utilise this sustainable alternative source of water supply, a properly designed Rainwater Harvesting System (RWH) must be installed to ensure quality of the stored water.   Ir. Ellias will present and review Rainwater Harvesting Systems overseas and in Malaysia, describe the components in a RWH system, explain the design and review the current codes and guidelines.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Ir. Ellias Saidin graduated in 1980 from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. He holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from University Putra Malaysia. Ir. Ellias is the Principal of Perunding Ikatan, a Consultant Engineering firm he established in 1991. He is a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Deputy Chairman of the Water Resources Technical Division of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (WRTD, IEM), Member of the Malaysian Water Association (MWA), Committee Member of Selangor Water Association (SWAN), Vice-President of Environmental Management and Research Association of Malaysia (ENSEARCH) and a Life member of the International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (IRCSA).

Ir. Ellias has designed and assisted in installations of Rainwater Harvesting Systems. He has presented papers at Water Conferences, written articles to Engineering Journals and presented talks at Seminars, Workshops and Colloquiums.