AIR AND WATER
POLLUTION
In Brunei Darussalam
Some Facts and Figures
 Located on the north cost of the island of
Borneo
 Surrounded by the state of Sarawak,
Malaysia
 Population of 408,786 as at June 2012
 Classified as a ‘developing country’
Towards Environmental
Sustainability
 A Department of Environment, Parks
and Recreation (JASTRE) was
established in July 2002 to oversee
preservation of the environment
 10th National Development Plan , much
emphasis on working towards a quality
of life based on consideration of
environmental factors
 In line with Vision 2035 for higher
standards of living and per capita income
to be within top 10 countries worldwide
 JASTRE works closely with international
organizations to ensure best practices in
environmental preservation
Air quality in Brunei
Darussalam
 Generally good with PSIs below USEPA,
EU and WHO guidelines.
 In 2012, 356 good air quality days (97%)
and 9 moderate air quality days (3%)
 From January 2013 to date, Brunei has
achieved 294 good air quality days
(81%) and 21 moderate air quality days
(6%)
Air quality in Brunei
Darussalam (2005-2013)
 Moderate air quality days attributed to
transboundary smoke haze pollution
from neighbouring countries (during dry
season, June – September)
 Localised forests and bush fires and
open burning also contribute to
impairment of air quality but not a
serious problem
Air Quality Monitoring
 Air quality monitoring has been
implemented and overseen by JASTRE
 Air quality monitoring stations located
throughout 4 districts
 Stations measures particulate matters of
sizes 10 microns and 2.5 microns that
are expressed in Pollutant Standard
Index or PSI
Problems
 Open Burning is still rampant, mainly
backyard burning in residential and
commercial areas
 Provision which bans open burning
s.277A Penal Code (during prescribed
periods)
ASEAN Agreement on
Transboundary Haze Pollution
 Brunei is a party to the Agreement
 JASTRE is the national focal point with
the National Disaster Management
Centre, the Department of Fire and
Rescue and the Department of
Metereological Services supporting
prevention and mitigation of forest fires
and smoke haze.
 As a country party to the Agreement,
Brunei provides regular updates to the
ASEAN secretariat
Water Quality in Brunei
Darussalam
 Rivers generally still in pristine condition
Problems and Challenges
 Pollution of Brunei River
 Worst in Kampong Ayer where residents
directly discharge sewage and sullage
water into the river
 Estimated 189,000 tonnes of waste
generated by Bruneians yearly, that is
approximately 1.4kg average waste per
capita per person per day.
 Solid waste pollution most visible in Kg
Ayer. (kitchen garbage and trash, cand,
bottles, plastic bags and discarded
household goods)
Solid waste pollution in Brunei
Bay
Other effects
 Indiscriminate dumping of solid waste
has also affected the mangrove forests
 This has affected fish resources and
poses ecological threats
 Once the mangrove forests disappear,
Brunei will become vulnerable to
tsunamis and will no longer provide
breeding ground for fish and prawns
What’s been done so far
 River water quality monitoring network
introduced under 2007-2013 National
Development Plan
 River quality monitoring stations
strategically located in the 4 major rivers,
Brunei River, Tutong River, Belait River
and Temburong River
 Monitoring is done upstream, midstream
and in the lower stream of the rivers
 The parameters measured and recorded
are compiled in a database to monitor
river water quality
Sungai Brunei Clean Up
Project
 Introduced by JASTRE (Dept of
Environment, Parks and Recreation) in
2008
 Involved collection and disposal of
floating waste, waste underneath houses
and along the riverbanks
 Waste reduction activities and
conservation efforts of the Brunei River
specifically
 Introduction of recycling bins in Kg Ayer
 Waste shredder has been posted at Ayer
Bekunchi waste collection centre to
shred wood and timbers
 Awareness programmes introduced in
primary schools in Kg Ayer on recycling
and proper disposal of waste
 Of greater signifance, implementation of
sewage treatment and disposal systems
in newly built Kg Ayer settlement
projects.
 In older settlements with no sewage
treatment plants, the Government is
resettling the residents to lessen the
pollution load generated.
Where we are
 At the National Environmental
Conference 2012, some alarming
statistics were revealed:
 1. Brunei’s energy consumption per
capita surpassed developed countries
like Japan, France and Germany by at
least 1300 kilowatts per hour per person
 2. Solid waste generation is at 1.4kg of
solid waste per person per day
 3. Brunei also makes about 15.5 tonnes
per capita per year in carbon dioxide
emissions (UK – 9.1 metric tonnes,
Malaysia – 7.1 metric tonnes)
 4. Brunei consumes twice the amount of
water as Malaysia and 3 times that of
Singapore at 450 litres of water per
person per day.
 Deterioration of the environment was
pointed out by the Minister of
Development as a ‘pressing issue’.
 He expressed concern that careful
attention be paid to the appropriate
balance between economic growth,
effective environmental protection and
social progress
The Way Forward?
 Environmental Protection and
Management Order 2012 , still in draft
form
 Covers air pollution control, water
pollution control, land pollution control,
hazardous substances control amongst
others
 No cases on pollution have come before
the courts
 Despite no legislation, measures in place
to control air and water pollution
 Government taking environmental
concerns seriously with many initiatives
introduced by the Ministry of
Development such as education and
awareness programmes to promote
water conservation, the use of water
saving devices in public buildings
 Introduction of Green Building initiatives
that is hoped will lead to a National
Green Building Certification Scheme.
 Feasibility study currently being
conducted for the development of a
treatment and disposal of a hazardous
wastes center.
 THANK YOU