Have you ever heard of salinity intrusion? This phenomenon refers to the movement of seawater into rivers, estuaries, or groundwater aquifers that should contain freshwater. In Malaysia, this issue is becoming increasingly severe due to climate change, sea-level rise, and human pressures that reduce river flow, particularly during the dry season.
The impact on our lives is significant, including reduced drinking water quality and supply risks, decreased agricultural yields for crops such as rice and vegetables, and higher water treatment costs. Furthermore, it causes damage to industrial equipment and pumps due to salt corrosion. To address this crisis, NAHRIM is committed to conducting continuous water quality monitoring and using numerical modelling (MIKE, Delft3D, or TELEMAC) to understand salinity patterns.
Key mitigation measures being implemented include the construction of barrages, gates, or salinity barriers (such as Ampang Jajar Barrage on the Kedah River), more systematic groundwater abstraction management, and the development of early warning systems using real-time sensors. Let us work together to support climate-adaptive Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) to ensure the sustainability of our freshwater resources and the nation’s ecosystems for future generations
Kementerian Peralihan Tenaga dan Transformasi Air
#InstitutPenyelidikanAirKebangsaanMalaysia