Publication Details

DEVELOPMENT OF WATER STRESS INDEX FOR WATER RESOURCES UNDER CHANGING CLIMATE IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA - KOLOKIUM KEBANGSAAN PENYELIDIKAN & PEMBANGUNAN AIR 2020

Malaysia has been facing water scarcity with insufficient water resources to meet the increasing water demand, especially in urbanised and developed areas. Water scarcity is mainly affected by climate condition which controlled the availability of renewable freshwater resources and the seasonality of water supply. It is also affected by water demand which is based by population trends and socio- economic developments. The severe El Nino phenomenon occurred in 1997-1998 and 2015-2016 where precipitation decreased significantly and caused a prolonged drought. Water resources shortage due to the inability of the water supply dam to provide a sufficient amount of water has affected water supply disruption to the entire population especially in Selangor and Klang Valley. This research focused on the development of water stress index on water resources assessment under global climate change impacts in Klang Valley (Selangor, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur and Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya) with emphasis on the occurrences of drought or flood due to prolong period of extreme wet and dry condition. Water stress is becoming more localised and should include relevant geographical and temporal dimensions in its representation. Water stress projections in relation to climate change need to be developed as a predecessor to policies and infrastructural intervention for long-term water security and sustainability. The water stress index (WSI) is used to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current and future status of water resource conditions related to the sustainability of water resources. The research will carry out WSI analysis which indicates the ratio of water resources availability/water yield value to the water demand/water use which will gradually be increasing for 2015, 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050 with selected 4 climate change scenarios with 15 realisations. Therefore, WSI production for Klang Valley is required to identify the potential districts that will be facing water stress in existing and future conditions due to climate change impacts. Water Stress Index (WSI) shown that Klang Valley has been experiencing water stress and will be more significant in the future. Assessment of water surplus and deficit was calculated to determine the ratio of water availability against water demand. The analysis indicated that the water resources availability and water yield are decreasing while at the same time the water demand is gradually increasing. The WSI maps produced will able to assist the required adaptation measures such as the identification of alternative water resources as the supplementary water supply is necessary to ensure water security in the future. Keywords: water scarcity; water stress index; climate change projection; water resources sustainability;