The quality of river water has a significant impact on human life. Humans use rivers for irrigation in agriculture, daily necessities such as drinking water, transportation, for generating electricity through hydroelectric dams and for leisure activities. Due to urbanization and modernization, river water pollution is a severe problem in Malaysia and has an adverse impact on the sustainability of water resources.

According the journal Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering. The title of the journal The river water quality before and during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia by Chai Lee Goi. There have a difference river water quality before the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) due to the COVID-19 pandemic and during the implementation of MCO in Malaysia.

Before the Movement Control Order (MCO) there have a lot of major river management issues are linked to water quality. From the data(DoE) the river were slightly polluted. The major causes of pollution to the rivers are related to anthropogenic activities. Specifically, the sources of contamination are caused by industrial areas, sewages, workshops, residential areas, animal husbandry activities, agricultural activities, landfills, plantation activities, market, food court and hawker stalls.

During the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020, many rivers were reportedly much cleaner and clearer than before. The river recently begun to recover. It is clearer and recovering after it was cleaned by itself. This is happen because the factories and industries around have stopped operations during Movement Control Order (MCO).

From the journal, the conclusion that we can do is to stringent law enforcement, public awareness about water resources, encourage people to 3R (recycle, reduce, reuse) and also segregation the waste.