Water Warriors bring Universiti Malaya's Varsity Lake back to life

Clean again: Once plagued with algae blooms and pollution, Varsity Lake in Universiti Malaya is now clean enough for recreation. — Filepic

Within the grounds of Universiti Malaya, a pond called Varsity Lake provides students and staff with a delightful respite. Kayaking activities take place alongside paddling ducks and geese. The scene signals the clean state of health of the lake; it is suitable for both recreation and animal life.

The current condition of the lake is the pride of the university. Two years ago, any recreation would not have been possible due to severe eutrophication (excessive nutrient enrichment) in the lake. It created an immense growth of algae which led to flash floods and overflows of turbid water. Compounding the problem was the presence of invasive species like tilapia and snakehead which dominated the lake.