Falling River Levels Signal Mounting Pressure On Water Security - Expert

By Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri

JELI, April 11 (Bernama) -- Although the situation has yet to reach crisis level, the drop in water levels in several rivers in Kelantan due to reduced rainfall should be regarded as an early warning of mounting pressure on the water security system.

Head of the Climate, Water and Environmental Resilience Research Group at the Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Assoc Prof Dr Mohamad Faiz Mohd Amin said monitoring by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage showed that Sungai Golok recently recorded water levels of about three to four metres.

He said that although there are signs of temporary recovery following rainfall in upstream areas such as Jeli and Gua Musang, the situation still requires close monitoring should the dry spell persist.

“If the drought is prolonged and river flow continues to decline, water levels could fall below the intake point, where raw water is abstracted by treatment plants.

“This would place pressure on treatment plant operations and could potentially disrupt the supply of raw water to consumers,” he told Bernama recently.

Commenting on the phenomenon of river water appearing clearer and greener, he said this is due to physical changes in the river system caused by reduced flow.

“When rainfall decreases, river flow slows, and less sediment such as soil and silt is carried into the river.

“As sediment levels drop significantly, the water becomes clearer, allowing sunlight to penetrate deeper and bring out its natural colour, including the presence of phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like organisms,” he said.

He stressed that this should not be misinterpreted as an improvement in water quality.

“Water that appears clear or greenish is not necessarily clean. It merely reflects physical changes, not an actual improvement in water quality,” he said.

Mohamad Faiz said that when water volume decreases, the river’s capacity to dilute pollutants is also reduced.

“This causes substances such as nutrients and waste to become more concentrated, thereby increasing risks to water quality and aquatic life.

“If this persists, it could affect fish habitats and the natural balance of the river ecosystem, ultimately impacting water resources relied upon by the community,” he said.

He also called for continuous monitoring by the relevant agencies and for more adaptive and responsive water resource management in addressing climate change.

“The public is also encouraged to use water prudently to avoid wastage as resources continue to dwindle. This is important as the impact could affect the water supply we rely on every day,” he added.

-- BERNAMA