River Restoration in Malaysia
Nov.06

RIVER RESTORATION IN
MALAYSIAIr. Cho Weng KeongDirector
River Division
Dept of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

9 November 2006

Contents• Rivers and its functions in Malaysia• Issues and Problems• River Restoration / River Management
Efforts in Malaysia• Conclusion

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Malaysia is rich in rivers

Nov.06

RIVER SYS TEM (WEST MALAYS IA )PERLISPUL AU

Kangar

RIVER SYSTEM (EAST MALAYSIA)THAILAND

L ANGK AW I

S.Ke lantan
Alo r Se tar

Kota Bharu

KEDAH

S.MudaGeorge Town

PUL AU

S.Terengganu

PINANG

Kota Kinabalu

Kuala Tere ngga nu

KELANTAN

S.Kinabatangan

SABAH

TERENGGANUPERAKLABUANS.DungunIpoh

S.Cuka i
S.Perak

S.Baram

PAHANG
Kua ntan
S.Kuanta nS.Berna m

SELANGOR

ShahAlam
S.Klang

S.Pa ha ng

Kuala
LumpurNEGERI
Seremban

S.Linggi

S.Rompin
S.Enda u

SEMBILANMELAKA
S.Melak a

SARAWAK

MelakaJOHOR

S.Mua rS.Rejang
t aKoKb Sinlu.Ka int nabag

S.Ba tu Pa ha t.B arm
Sc iadu.KS.R ejan
Sgnog
-I DaA mS
Parh nS.BenutJohor
Bahru S.JohorS.Sarawak
KucingS.Sadong

SINGAPORE• Peninsular Malaysia = 89
• Sarawak = 22
• Sabah = 78

• Total = 189 (57,300 km length)

River Restoration in Malaysia

Floral

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River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

Fauna

Nov.06

Recreation

3

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River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

Transport

Nov.06

Source of Food and Income

4River Restoration in Malaysia

Historical Function

Religious Functions

Nov.06

River Restoration in Malaysia

Irrigation

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Water Supply

Power Generation5River Restoration in Malaysia

RIVERSPROVIDE 97 %OF ALL THE
WATER USEDIN MALAYSIA

Nov.06

River Restoration in Malaysia

DEMAND FOR DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY
18,00016,00014,00012,00010,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,0000

1998

2000

2010

2020

2030

2040

2050

Domestik , Juta Liter 5,022 5,558 8,814 10,582 12,622 14,388 16,176
Sehari

Nov.06

6

River Restoration in Malaysia

ISSUES &PROBLEMSRiver Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Average Annual Rainfall
2,500 mm to 3,000 mm

Nov.067River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

Floods

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Drought

Nov.068

River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

Sedimentation

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Rivers silting up

9

River Restoration in Malaysia
River Restoration in Malaysia

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Effect of siltation

River BankErosion> 45o slope> 45o slope

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Solid Waste Problem

River Restoration in Malaysia

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Water Quality
Deterioration

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River Restoration in Malaysia
Nov.06

80
Clean

7073

Slightly Polluted

71

68

Polluted

72

615055604848355853535843383332251411635342425

2075847423730106353444075746460
Number of River Basins

River Restoration in Malaysia

River Basins Water Quality Trend (1990-2005)

141716131371213149901990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Nov.06Year

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Status of River Basin Water Quality, 2002
RIVER BASIN CONDITION

SOURCE OF POLLUTION(ACTIVITY)

Sewage, Agro-based &Manufacturing
Industries

Sewage58%

43%

Earthworks & Land
Clearing

24%

33%

65%

Clean

POLLUTION INDICATOR(PARAMETER)

12%Slightly Polluted

18%

Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD)24%

Ammoniacal Nitrogen(NH4 –N)

23%

Suspended Solids(SS)Polluted

Note:- Number of River Basins Monitored = 120
Number of Monitoring Station = 927

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Nov.0613

River Restoration in Malaysia

Logging

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Clearing of Land for Agriculture
and Development

Nov.0614

River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

Sand Mining

Nov.06

Encroachment of River Reserves

Nov.0615

River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

SquattersNov.06

Landfills

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Direct Discharges into Rivers

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Wet Markets
Food Outles
Slaughter Houses

Household Waste

Animal Farms

Cottage Industries

Nov.06
Sewerage

Agriculture

17

River Restoration in Malaysia

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Nov.06

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River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

Now want to “Bring Nature Back” to our Rivers

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Nov.06

CLEAN, LIVING & VIBRANT

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River Restoration in Malaysia

DEFINITION
River Restoration
Defined as :“the return of a river ecosystem to a close
approximation of its condition prior todisturbance”
The objective is to emulate a natural, selfregulating system that is integrated ecologicallywith the landscape in which it occurs

Nov.06

River Restoration in Malaysia

Ref : National Research Council (NRC) United States

River Management
Corrective Measures
Curative Measures
Preventive Measures

Nov.0620

River Restoration in Malaysia

River Management
Corrective Measures
Curative Measures
Preventive Measures

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

RiverMaitenance
Works

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Riverbank Protection & Re-vegetation :w/high river traffic @ Sg. Sarawak river mouth, Kuching

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Nov.06

Riverbank Protection :River embankment protection w/flexible green system

Sg. Bentong, Pahang

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Trash booms
constructedRiver Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Nov.06

Workers removing rubbish dumped into rivers
In Klang Valley about 50 tons collected daily

23

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River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

River clean-up
program

Nov.06Landscaping of Rivers

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Major Rivers Identified For
Rehabiitation / Restoration.
• Sg. Pinang, Penang (RM30 m.)• Sg. Melaka, Malacca (RM160 m.)• Sg. Tebrau, Sg. Skudai and Sg. Segget inJohor (RM 900 m.)

Nov.06

River Restoration in Malaysia

SG MELAKA, Malacca

Before – July 2003
After – Nov 2004

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River Restoration in Malaysia

River Management
Corrective Measures
Curative Measures
Preventive Measures

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Some Pilot
Projects inMalaysia

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Use of Effective
Micro-organism(EM)for Sg. Perlis(2006)

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Nov.0625 April 200623 Jun 2006

100 mmSubstantial decrease of sludge after 58 days

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River Restoration in Malaysia
River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.0627 Mei 2006

23 Jun 2006

26 April 2006

23 Jun 2006

River Water Purification Experimentin Malaysia (2003-2005)

Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan
Nihon Suido Consultants Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
Nov.0628

River Restoration in Malaysia

Location and Structure of theExperiment
Experimental Facilities

Sg. MidahSg. Kuyuh

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

PURIFICATION FUNCTIONS OF THE GRAVELCONTACT OXIDATION PROCESS

1. Self-purification Mechanisms of Rivers
GravelAlgae

RapidsFiltration

2) Absorption &Aeration 3) Decomposition

Rapids
PoolPool1) Sedimentationz Filtrationz 1) Sedimentation
Nov.06z 2) Biological Absorption & 3) Decomposition

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Facility Layout and Water Flow

Gravel Contact
Oxidation Basin
Reservoir

Sg. Midah

Nov.06

Sg. Kuyuh

Intake Pump

The FlowRiver Restoration in Malaysia

Inflow

Discharge

Measuring Tank
120m3/dayReservoir

Monitoring
Channels
Effluent

Influent

Purifiedwater

Raw RiverWater

Gravel Contact
Oxidation Basin

50150mmNov.0630

River Restoration in Malaysia

Results of the Experiments- Water Quality of the Inflow Water
Ave.

MinMax

NH4-N(mg/l）

7.58

2.88

11.20

Water
QualityStandardⅤ

BOD(mg/l)

25.0

8.1

67.4

Ⅴ

CODCr(mg/l)

82.8

34.0

186.0

ⅣDO(mg/l)

3.7

0.68

6.0

Ⅲ

pH

7.2

6.6

7.8

Ⅰ

Conductivity(µS/m)

310

118

424

Ⅱ

SS(mg/l)

322.9

21.0

1200.0Ⅴ

ParameterNo.1 Heavily Polluted InfluentRiver Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Water Purification Effects (1st Monitoring）

Items

SampleNumberInfluent(A)

Effluent fromthe reservoir(B)

Effluent(C)

Removal ratio（％）
Whole facility[(A-C)/A]

Transparency

(cm)

126.6

8.3

38.5

−SS(mg/l)

12283.3

109.3

8.597%

Turbidity(NTU)

12177.7

98.4

28.7

84%

BOD

(mg/l)

1222.2

14.7

6.5

71%

D-BOD

(mg/l)

1211.38.0

3.965%

DO(mg/l)

123.5

3.1

4.8

−

NH4 -N(mg/l)

46.08

5.97

0.54

91%

4

3.9×104

3.5×104

1.0×103

97%

Fecal Coliform (cfu/100ml)

Nov.06

Water Quality of Influent

Good Purification Efficiency!!

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Pilot Project on Use of Activated Crystal Carbon,Tuang River, Malacca

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Restocking ofFishlifeRiver Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

River Management
Corrective Measures
Curative Measures
Preventive Measures

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Love Our Rivers Campaign
Started in 1993

River Restoration in Malaysia

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Nov.06

River adoption program34

River Restoration in Malaysia

Public awarenessand education

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Nov.06‘River Watch’ program in schools

35

River Restoration in Malaysia

River Expeditions

River Restoration in Malaysia

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Nov.06

Recreation facilities for Rivers

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Posters dan pamphlets

Manuals andGuidelines

Nov.06

37

River Restoration in Malaysia

River Restoration in Malaysia

Other Measures
Implementationof zerocontribution topeak discharges
arising fromdevelopment.
(2001)

Nov.06

River Restoration in Malaysia

JABATAN PENGAIRAN DAN SALIRAN

Other Measures
Mandatory
Erosion andSedimentControl Plan
(ESCP) for
development
projects.

Model ESCP

B

B

SB1
B

ST

SB

ST1

B

B

ST2
B

B

B

SB18

B

B

SB16

B

Nov.0638River Restoration in Malaysia

Other Measures
Installation ofFood, Oil andGrease Trapfor all foodoutlets.

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

pH control

ClarifierStorage &Treatment

Filter Press
Nov.06

DosingBatik Factory Discharge Treatment

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River Restoration in Malaysia

River Basin Master Plans provide overall
framework for development in a river basin

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Nov.06

National Water Resources Council at its meetingon 29 July 2003 agreed to the preparation ofRiver Basin Master Plans

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River Restoration in Malaysia
River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Other Measures• IRBM Plan for Sg. Kedah and Sg. Selangor
in progress. (2002-2007).
• Blueprint for IRBM plan being prepared.
• Efforts being taken to convince State
Governments to gazette river reserves.
• Efforts being taken to convince Federal
Government to place rivers as concurrent
list with the intention to finally draft a River
Law to govern all activities in a river basin.

Other Issues
Gaps in Knowledge BaseInsufficient evaluation on success ofriver restoration pilot projects
Insufficient understanding of how key
river management tools impact on rivers
Insufficient understanding of thenatural recovery processes of streams
and rivers under monsoonal conditions

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River Restoration in Malaysia

SummaryRiver Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

River restoration possible with proper
control and techniques
Restoration can provide multiple
benefits e.g. biodiversity enhancement,
cleaner water, enhanced water storage,
reduced flood risk
Restoration more successful using ecosystem approach within framework ofIRBM

SummaryProtection and rehabilitation of forests
and wetlands in river basin an important
strategy for restoration
Natural hydrological regimes andhabitat diversity should be restored
Weightage should be placed on scientificviewpoint, engineering knowledge andlocal experience in restoration projects

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River Restoration in Malaysia

Conclusion

Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation
Æ problems/issues relating to river andriverine environment expected to intensifyFor sustainable development, river basinsneed to be managed in an integrated andholistic manner (IRBM)

A major component is River Restoration

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Conclusion

Nov.06

River restoration needs involvement andcommitment of all parties
All stakeholders need to actively
contribute resources (user and pollution
pay principles) and work together toprotect and restore river systems for thebenefit of present and future generations
Need to share experiences and cooperate with others

43River Restoration in Malaysia

ConclusionTo build awareness and capacity at local,
national and regional levels

Regional River Restoration Network or
Centre should be established to link
activities, & document and shareknowledge and experiences

River Restoration in Malaysia

Nov.06

Nov.0644