From fragmentation to consolidation: An integrated approach for multidimensional analysis of water security in Langat River Basin, Malaysia

The river basins in Peninsular Malaysia face imminent water security threats due to rapid socioeconomic development activities. Current assessments primarily focus on isolated issues, leading to fragmented and inconsistent data across institutions and agencies. This fragmentation hampers policymakers' ability to comprehend and interpret assessment outcomes, compromising sustainable water resource planning and management. To address these challenges, an integrated approach to water resource management is proposed, involving the development of a Consolidated Water Security Index (CWSI). This study aims to examine multidimensional factors influencing water security and establish the CWSI at the river basin scale. Considering five dimensions, eleven indicators and thirty-three variables in the Langat River Basin, Malaysia, the study employs normalisation, weighting using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), aggregation and validation. The resulting CWSI of 0.601 proves reliable in assessing water security in the Langat River Basin, indicating its capacity to meet local water needs as of 2020. However, concerns arise for the future as the basin approaches its maximum supply capacity, anticipating water stress and limiting space for future allocations. With a coefficient of sensitivity less than one, the CWSI underscores its reliability in determining water security status. Serving as a benchmark, this CWSI aids policymakers in assessing and interpreting complex information, contributing to more effective water resource planning and management across Peninsular Malaysia's river basins amidst evolving socioeconomic and environmental challenges. • Peninsular Malaysia’s river basins face imminent threats to water security. • Fragmented data hinders policymakers in water resource planning and management. • The CWSI integrates five dimensions, eleven indicators and thirty-three variables. • Despite moderate security, the Langat Basin risks future stress from rising demand. • The CWSI supports policymakers in ensuring sustainable water resource management.