A PENANG-based company, Alam Aliran Kualiti (M) Sdn Bhd, is set to become the first in the country to commercialise cement bricks made from water treatment plant residue.
Alam Aliran Kualiti, a company specialising in scheduled waste management and wastewater treatment, has been operating for over 20 years.
It is also responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the newly constructed Sungai Dua Dewatering Plant (SDDP)—a state-of-the-art facility designed to manage the residue generated at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (Sungai Dua WTP), which officially commenced operations last week.
SDDP is a facility that will dewater, process and dispose of water treatment plant residue every day without compromising the environment.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said that the RM20 million facility, outsourced to Alam Aliran Kualiti, will operate under PBAPP’s supervision and regulated by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
Alam Aliran Kualiti project manager Karthigayan Ganeson explained that the company employs belt press technology to extract water from sludge and other materials—a method commonly used in wastewater treatment, food processing, and industrial effluent treatment.
“The difference between conventional bricks and our bricks is the material composition.
“Traditional bricks are made of sand, cement, and a portion of water, whereas our bricks replace part of the materials with processed sludge from Sungai Dua WTP,” Karthigayan stated.
He emphasised that the bricks produced by Alam Aliran Kualiti are certified safe, possess high fire resistance, and feature enhanced texture and structural integrity.
“We are excited to commercialise this innovative product across Malaysia for use in the construction industry,” he told Buletin Mutiara during an interview at Alam Aliran Kualiti’s factory in Bukit Minyak Industrial Park recently.
Also present during the interview was Alam Aliran Kualiti director B. Pavetiran.
Karthigayan further elaborated on the production process, explaining that the water treatment plant residue is first processed at SDDP before being transported to their factory in Bukit Minyak Industrial Park, where it is transformed into bricks.
“We see significant opportunities for the construction industry with this product, as it is more cost-effective, lighter, and environmentally friendly.
“We have conducted extensive research and development (R&D) over several years before deciding to embark on this venture,” he said.
Karthigayan further mentioned that Alam Aliran Kualiti expects to produce up to 65,000 bricks per day, marking a major milestone in the country’s push towards sustainable construction materials.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad