7 October 2026 – The Selangor Climate Adaptation Centre (SCAC) joined the Department of Environment Malaysia (Jabatan Alam Sekitar Malaysia, DOE) stakeholder engagement session on the forthcoming guidebook for developing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation plans in Malaysia, “Sesi Libat Urus Bagi Penerbitan Buku Panduan Pembangunan Pelan Pelaksanaan Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Di Malaysia”.
What Is a TMDL?
How much pollution can a river take and still be safe for its purpose, whether drinking water, fisheries or recreation? A TMDL sets that limit.
In simple terms, a TMDL is a pollution budget for a river. It caps the total daily load from all sources, from factories and treatment plants to farms and urban runoff, so that the river can meet its water quality objective. The implementation plan turns that budget into actions, responsible agencies and timelines.
Why This Matters for Selangor
- Selangor’s rivers supply drinking water to millions of people.
- Pollution comes from many sources at once, so every agency and local council needs to be at the table.
- Climate change raises the stakes: lower flows during longer dry spells leave less room for pollution, so load limits should be tested against the river flows expected in future, not only those of the past.
SCAC thanks the Department of Environment Malaysia for the opportunity to contribute and looks forward to continued engagement as the guidebook is finalised.
