Sains Malaysiana 39(3)(2010): 337–345

Assessment of Selected Chemical and Microbial Parameters in

Groundwater of Pulau Tiga, Sabah, Malaysia

(Taksiran Parameter Kimia dan Mikrob Terpilih Bagi Air Bawah Tanah di Pulau Tiga, Sabah, Malaysia)

Chin Yik Lin*¹, Mohd. Harun Abdullah¹, Baba Musta¹, Ahmad Zaharin Aris²

& Sarva Mangala Praveena²

¹School of Science and Technology Universiti Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

²Faculty of Environmental Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 25 June 2009 / Accepted: 19 October 2009

ABSTRACT

Ambient groundwater samples collected from five wells in Pulau Tiga have been studied for selected physico-chemical and biological parameters to understand general water quality of the island. This preliminary study on groundwater of Pulau Tiga was undertaken to provide guidance and baseline data for future references. Two field works were undertaken in August and November 2007 to collect the groundwater samples. Groundwater samples were collected from five representatives wells at the low lying area of Pulau Tiga in order to study the in-situ parameters such as DO (dissolved oxygen), EC (electrical conductivity), TDS (total dissolved solids), pH, salinity and temperature. In general, groundwater in Pulau Tiga is moderate in conductivity (330 μS/cm – 1005 μS/cm), and serves as a vital freshwater source to both tourists and local inhabitants. However, bacteriological analysis showed that the groundwater quality was poor, with fecal coliform counts exceeding the WHO permissible limits for drinking water. Through this study, human factor was to be blame for the fecal contamination coliform where the polluted ground water might be originated from sanitation facilities located too close to the wells. The occurrence of total and fecal coliform bacteria in counts suggests poor sanitary handling and warns of the potential presence of disease-causing organisms.

Keywords: E. coli; groundwater; Pulau Tiga; water quality

ABSTRAK

Sampel air bawah tanah telah diambil dari lima buah perigi di Pulau Tiga bagi mengkaji parameter fizikokimia serta biologi terpilih untuk memahami kualiti air secara umum di pulau tersebut. Penyelidikan perintis air bawah tanah di Pulau Tiga telah dijalankan untuk menyediakan satu garis panduan serta data asas untuk rujukan masa depan. Dua kerja persampelan telah diadakan pada Ogos dan November 2007 bagi mengambil sampel air bawah tanah. Sampel-sampel air bawah tanah telah diambil dari lima buah perigi di Pulau Tiga untuk memahami parameter in-situ air tanah seperti DO (oksigen terlarut), EC (kekonduksian elektrik), TDS (jumlah pepejal terlarut), pH, kemasinan dan suhu. Secara umum, air tanah di Pulau Tiga adalah sederhana daripada segi kekonduksiannya (330 μS/cm – 1005 μS/cm), dan ia berfungsi sebagai sumber air tawar yang utama bagi menampung keperluan pelancong dan penduduk tempatan. Walau bagaimanapun, analisis bakteriologi menunjukkan kualiti air bawah tanah yang dicemari dengan jumlah koliform najis yang melebihi piawai WHO untuk kegunaan air minuman. Melalui kajian ini, faktor manusia merupakan pengaruh utama bagi pencemaran najis di mana air bawah tanah yang tercemar dipercaya berasal daripada kemudahan sanitasi yang terletak berhampiran dengan perigi. Kehadiran jumlah koliform dan koliform najis dalam kiraan menggambarkan pengendalian sanitasi yang lemah dan pada masa yang sama memberi kesedaran tentang potensi kewujudan organisma yang boleh menyebabkan penyakit.

Kata kunci : Air bawah tanah; E. coli; kualiti air; Pulau Tiga

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*Corresponding author: cy_lin_ars@hotmail.com