Water Sustainability: Water Usage Audit and Conservation Awareness among Students in Universiti Sains Malaysia

Abstract

Water, a chemical substance that is vital to sustain living things. According to some popular researches, human being can starve without food for up to 21 days but can only live up to three days without water. While the supply seems abundant, water is a limited resource, particularly the fresh potable water which is most fundamental to human survival. Water conservation is imperative to solve global water shortage problem that has become more rampant nowadays. Moreover, with the unpredictable climate change, it is crucial to conserve water before it becomes more severe to treat which in turn might leave the future generation with a great deal of dilemma. This research aims to assess water consumption and water conservation awareness among students who stay in USM hostels. Two methods have been used to conduct the research; observation and measurement of water reading in two hostel buildings which consist of nine hostel blocks in total, and distribution of a set of questionnaire to students in USM who stay in USM hostels. Recommendations on water conservation awareness are addressed accordingly.