Water is a critical resource for consumption and production as well as the environment in Penang. There are a broad range of water-related problems which occur due to improper management and inefficient use in Penang area including:

• Pollution of streams and rivers from industrial and domestic pollution, solid waste, eroded soil from land clearing
• Degradation of lakes and other water bodies
• High levels of water use for domestic and industrial use
• Reduction in quality of water supply
• Inefficiency and wastage in water usage,
• Lack of recreational areas with clean water resources
• Flooding

Most water used in Penang are sourced from rivers. Rivers can also be an important asset for recreation and tourism – or if they are poorly managed a source of public health problems. Sg Pinang on Penang Island and Sg Juru on the mainland are significant rivers in in Penang which are both badly polluted. In oder to enhance community participation in river protection and rehabilitation in Penang, GEC and HSBC in collaboration have proposed a river rehabilitation project in Sg. Pinang in the duration of three years (year 2010-2013).

The partners in the project implementation include:

• HSBC* Staff and customers
• DID Penang
• State Education Department
• Local NGO’s/CBO’s such as PeWOG, CENCED and Penang Water Watch.

*The HSBC staff and customers are expected to be from one or more of HSBC’s 4 branches in Penang ( Juru, Butterworth, Bayu Bay and Penang Downing Street).      

Activities

The implementation of the program will start off with a one-day training session for community members including HSBC’s employees to facilitate their understanding and perception on river basin management, problems, issues and impacts in Malaysia. Other activities have include:

• Cleanup and monitoring river activities
• River walk
• Pollution mapping
• River bank beautification
• Recycling and waste reduction