“Climate change brings about a lot of uncertainty and it may affect the water supply. The water from some rivers is just too polluted so we are studying if groundwater can be exploited,” he said during the launch of the Malaysian Institute of Geologists (IGM) Outreach Programme 2012-2013 here yesterday.
Uggah said the move towards groundwater instead of traditional rainwater catchment mechanisms was outlined in the National Water Resources Policy launched last month by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
When launching the Outreach Programme themed “Geology Made Easy for Everyone”, Uggah said this was to create awareness on the role of geologists in nation-building.
“It was the geologists, namely the Minerals and Geoscience Department, who built tube wells around peat swamps to avoid peat fires during the dry season from April to September.
“That is why peat fires are kept to a minimum, reducing the likelihood of haze during the hot season,” he said.
The programme involves a series of conferences, seminars and exhibitions covering groundwater, applied geology, economic geology, geological heritage and natural disasters.
IGM president Datuk Yunus Abdul Razak said it was important for the public to understand these subjects in order to make sensible, informed decisions in many fields.
The first conference under the programme, titled “Groundwater: What, Why, Where and How?”, will be held from May 8-9 in Bandar Utama.
Those interested can register at www.igm.org.my.
