and lab testing of products; and university student
research projects. More recently IWK’s Centre
of Excellence for Research and Innovation in
Wastewater (ICERIW) was launched in 2013 as
part of the long-term goal to establish a Malaysian
R&D Centre dedicated to the sewerage industry.
On aggregate IWK carried out and facilitated more
than a 100 R&D studies for improving sewage
collections and treatment systems, promoting
environmental sustainability via green technology
and resource recovery applications.
The R&D focus areas invariably fall into three
main categories namely:
(1) Sewerage System Improvement i.e.
collection & sewage treatment system
technologies & performance;
(2) Environmental Sustainability via
Resource Recovery & Reuse Technologies
i.e. wastewater reuse, sludge reuse
management and biogas as renewable
energy.
(3) Socio Economic Studies.
The following sections highlight key projects
within the three main categories that have
contributed to the sewerage industry, brought
about green technology development and benefits
in line with Malaysia’s green economy aspirations.
R&D FOR SEWERAGE SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENT
R&D in Collection System
Collaborative research with UTM on fundamental
topics such as determination of per capita sewage
load and inflow & infiltration in sewerage pipeline
were conducted. The former provided actual
sewage load (quantity and strength) in a local
catchment. Figure 2 illustrates the conceptual
model for inflow-infiltration evaluation. Actual flow
rate was measured at 202L/PE.day as compared
to the design standard of 225L/PE.day, whilst
organic loading was found at Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD) of 45g/PE.day compared to design
values of 55g/PE.day and Suspended Solids was
detected at 20g/PE.day compared to 68g/PE.day
as recommended by the Malaysian Standard
(MS1228). These findin