Sungai Kinta which is 100 km in length originates from Gunung Korbu at Ulu Kinta, Tanjung Rambutan to Sungai Perak. The 2,500 km2 Sg. Kinta river basin branches into 7 tributaries; Sg. Pari, Sg. Buntong Sg. Kledang , Sg. Raya, Sg. Pinji, Sg. Johan, Sg. Kampar and Sg. Chenderiang.

Sg. Kinta is a critical resource for consumption and production in Ipoh. There are a broad range of water related problems which occurs due to improper management and inefficient including:

• High levels of water use for domestic and industrial use
• Reduction in quality of water supply
• Inefficiency and wastage in water usage
• Pollution of streams and rivers from industrial and domestic pollution
• Solid waste, eroded soil from land clearing, degradation of lakes and other water bodies
• Flooding
• Sewage pollution from retention ponds
• Wet market, domestic animal farming
• Lack of recreational areas with clean water resources
• Increase in waterborne disease

Sg. Kinta is currently classified with an average Class III water quality and a water quality index of 51.9 – 76.5. This means that the water is polluted and requires extensive treatment before the water can be used for drinking purposes. The major causes of pollution in the Sg. Kinta Basin are: industrial discharge, improper sewage treatment, residential discharge, wet markets, pig/chicken farms, sand-mining, land development, and soil erosion.

There is an urgent need to address these issues and engage the target communities including the industries, schools and residents to understand the seriousness of the problem and initiate changes at their areas.