Tropical Climate Effects on Sustainable Water Supply, Demand, and Hydro-Economics: A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/bioenv.v4i3.134Keywords:
Hydro-economics, Tropical Climate, Water Security, Optimization Modelling, Malaysia Sustainable ManagementAbstract
As tropical regions face intensifying climatic shifts, the traditional management of water resources is becoming increasingly inadequate. In Malaysia, the transition from an agrarian economy to a high-technology industrial hub has significantly elevated the economic value of water security. This review explores the integration of the Modern Hydro-Economic Model (HEM) as a proposed strategic framework to navigate the complexities of water supply and demand within a tropical climate framework from 2000 to 2025, with a forward-looking application pathway toward 2026. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 1,240 records were identified; after duplicate removal, title/abstract screening, and full-text eligibility assessment, 310 studies were included. The systematic review synthesizes hydrological data (precipitation and recharge) with socio-economic indicators (GDP per m3 and operational expenditure). The review provides a proposed Modern HEM framework that would use optimization algorithms to balance ecosystem equilibrium with industrial and domestic requirements. The review identifies a critical shift in Malaysia’s water portfolio, moving toward Conjunctive Use (rivers, TAPS, and groundwater) to mitigate "Economic Shutdown" risks. The synthesized literature indicates that as urbanization degrades river quality, the marginal cost of treatment rises, making alternative groundwater sources economically viable. Furthermore, the reviewed evidence suggests that the economic impact of water shortages in 2024 is substantially higher than in 2000 due to the growth of water-intensive tech sectors. The study concludes that a Modern HEM may provide a useful decision-support framework, subject to future empirical implementation and validation, for tropical water sustainability. It is intended to translate climatic uncertainty into predictable economic strategies, supporting resilience of Malaysia’s water-energy-food nexus against future environmental shifts.
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