Protecting Water Security SDG 6 in Malaysia and China: Role of Model Simulations

Research and development for protecting water security SDG 6 involve scientific and holistic synthesis for ensuring availability of water of the right quality at the right time and at the right places. In particular, model simulations can provide useful insights into resolving critical issues involved. In this chapter, two modeling case studies are presented to provide perspectives on issues related to transboundary water management and lake water quality management. In the first study, the Watershed Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) soil erosion model was used to forecast soil loss due to extensive logging in Ulu Muda in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. Field data and WEPP simulation results convinced the federal government to ban logging in Ulu Muda to protect water security in the three northern states of Penang, Perlis, and Kedah. The second study focused on lake water quality management involving two lakes in Malaysia – Tasik Harapan and Sunway Lagoon – and three lakes in China – Lake Fuxian, Lake Dianchi, and Lake Taihu. The objective is to provide regional perspectives on lake eutrophication management in tropical and subtropical lakes. Bifurcation analysis performed allows the determination of the regime shift behavior of each lake. Notably, for the small and shallow tropical Tasik Harapan, the analysis revealed that the eutrophic lake can only be rehabilitated by a combination of external phosphorus reduction, dredging, and flushing. This chapter provides a synthesis of how water management studies, research, projects, and good practice can contribute to water conservation and restoration.