In January 2026, the United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) warned the world was entering an era of “global water bankruptcy”. Malaysia may not be in “water bankruptcy” yet, but the report warns that repeated shocks and long-term overuse are pushing many water systems beyond recovery. The UNU-INWEH uses “water bankruptcy” to describe a stage beyond the usual language of “water stress” or a “water crisis”. Malaysia’s NRW woesNon-revenue water (NRW), treated water that is produced but lost before it reaches users, reduces the volume available to households and businesses. A 2020 study by the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia assessed the Klang Valley’s water stress under climate change scenarios and reported high to extremely high water stress in its assessment.

Source: The Edge Markets March 22, 2026 03:21 UTC