Protect rivers from the threat of climate change

It is deeply alarming to read that the Pahang River has dried so much that people can now walk through sections once covered by water and navigable only by boat. The river has supported local communities for generations, providing water for farming, transport, fishing and daily life. Its condition now points to mounting pressure on a resource central to life in the region.

The most obvious causes are declining rainfall and increasingly hot weather. Malaysia is experiencing the effects of El Niño, a phenomenon that typically brings hotter and drier conditions. When it coincides with the dry season, rainfall can fall below normal levels, leaving rivers shallower. Climate change is also making heat periods more extreme and increasing the possibility of longer dry seasons.

But the blame cannot rest entirely with the weather. Deforestation, the opening of land for large-scale agriculture or development, slope clearing and poorly controlled sand mining can all send eroded soil into rivers. Over time, sediment builds up and makes parts of a river even shallower.

Urban development changes the movement of rainwater as well. Instead of slowly soaking into the ground, more water runs quickly across roads, roofs and concrete surfaces into drains and rivers, increasing the risk of flash floods during heavy rain. During dry periods, however, less water remains stored in the soil and groundwater to feed rivers gradually. The issue therefore concerns not only how much rain falls, but also how land, rivers and water resources are managed.

Water use adds another strain. Malaysians consume an average of about 225 liters of domestic water per person each day, above the national target of 180 liters. Large volumes are also lost through leaking pipes and aging infrastructure. Schools, universities, hospitals, offices, shopping centers, factories and housing developments can help by fixing leaks quickly, monitoring bills, installing efficient taps and toilets, collecting rainwater and managing facilities more sustainably.