Future of water supply is underground, not in rivers, says expert

GEORGE TOWN: Water companies have to switch to groundwater and storm water sources to ensure pipes keep flowing at a time of water shortage caused by climate change and depleting river water levels, an expert has advised.

Md Nasir Md Noh said only 1.2% of the country’s groundwaters has been tapped into, with Kelantan drawing the most, while storm water storage, which taps surface run-off or floodwaters, was not too many.

Nasir, who is National Water Research Institute (Nahrim) director-general, said the country’s reliance on drawing water from rivers – such as Sungai Muda, Sungai Selangor and Sungai…