Threats faced by groundwater: A preliminary study in Kuala Selangor

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change as the rise in sea level will lead to damage of infrastructure, degradations of agricultural areas, contamination of surface and groundwater and loss of biodiversity; which covers a wide range of negative impacts to various socio-economic sectors. Preliminary findings indicate that Kuala Selangor, which hosts several groundwater aquifers and serves as a significant "rice bowl" for the nation is susceptible to groundwater salinization and other impacts of sea level rise. A comprehensive assessment is required to evaluate the potential impacts of sea level rise in the area so that appropriate adaptation measures can be identified and implemented to ensure sustainable socio-economic development.Abstrak: Paras air tanah di kawasan pantai yang meningkat selari dengan paras air laut boleh menyebabkan berlakunya inundasi air tanah. Hal ini boleh mengakibatkan gangguan kepada infrastruktur bawah tanah seperti tapak pelupusan sampah dan tangki septik lalu mendedahkan air tanah dan lapisan geologi kepada pencemaran. Kenaikan paras air laut merupakan ancaman kepada ekosistem pantai dan melibatkan pelbagai sektor sosio-ekonomi seperti kerosakan infrastruktur, pencemaran kawasan pertanian, air permukaan serta air tanah, dan kehilangan biodiversiti. Dapatan awal kajian menunjukkan kawasan Kuala Selangor yang mempunyai akuifer pantai dan merupakan salah satu kawasan penghasilan utama padi di Malaysia terdedah kepada ancaman kenaikan paras air laut. Penilaian secara menyeluruh perlu dijalankan di kawasan ini bagi mengenal pasti potensi impak kenaikan paras air laut supaya langkah adaptasi boleh dikenal pasti dan dijalankan bagi memastikan kelestarian pembangunan sosio-ekonomi.

Hydrogeochemistry investigation on groundwater in Kuala Langat, Banting, Selangor

“…The groundwater salinization in Banting, Kuala Langat significantly showed that there has been an influence from seawater intrusion, based on the current finding. This is similar to Jamaluddin et al (2016) which revealed that there were threats of high salinity in groundwater affected by sea level rise in Kuala Langat. The findings from the hydrogeochemistry analysis in the current study revealed that the groundwater sources in Kuala Langat indicate the influence of seawater intrusion.…”

Coastal Inundation Simulation in Selangor Utilising Geospatial Technology

“…As Kuala Selangor consist of natural resources, it is more prone to the impact of sea level rise leading to the flooding of low-lying areas of the coastal zone. This is because, among the main causes of coastal inundation are sea level rise, erosion, wetland changes, saltwater contamination of surface and groundwater, and increase groundwater surface (McLeod et al, 2010;Nicholls, 2011;Brown et al, 2013;Wong et al, 2014;Jamaluddin et al, 2016;Mucerino et al, 2019;Hamid et al, 2019;Hamid et al, 2021).…”