In Malaysia, as elsewhere, water is considered as the core of sustainable development and a critical element for its socio-economic development. Water is the driver of the key sectors of its economy and will remain as a crucial element to sustain its healthy ecosystem which eventually affects the well-being of its population. Water is finite resource and it is only renewable if well managed. Water can pose serious challenges to sustainable development but if managed efficiently and equitably, water would play a key enabling role in strengthening the resilience of social, economic and environmental systems in the light of rapid and unpredictable changes.
One of the key elements in managing water resource is to provide a comprehensive management instrument which could provide multiple functions including accounting for water resources, providing real time via on-line information on water availability, an assessment tool to evaluate operation options for efficient water allocation and a forecasting system to assist in the decision management process.
It is therefore of the interest of Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Malaysia to conduct a water balance study, to develop of a Water Balance Management System (NAWABS).