Sains Malaysiana 44(1)(2015): 67–73

A Preliminary Study of Water Quality Index in Terengganu River Basin, Malaysia

(Kajian Awal Indeks Kualiti Air di Lembangan Sungai Terengganu, Malaysia)

S. SURATMAN¹*, M.I. MOHD SAILAN¹, Y.Y. HEE¹, E.A. BEDURUS¹ & M.T. LATIF²

¹Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

²School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 18 November 2013/Accepted: 31 May 2014

ABSTRACT

The Malaysian Department of Environment-Water Quality Index (DOE-WQI) was determined for the Terengganu River basin which is located at the coastal water of the southern South China Sea between July and October 2008. Monthly samplings were carried out at ten sampling stations within the basin. Six parameters listed in DOE-WQI were measured based on standard methods: pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS) and ammonical nitrogen (AN). The results indicated the impact of various anthropogenic activities which contribute to high values of BOD, COD, TSS and AN at middle and downstream stations, as compared with the upstream of the basin. The reverses were true for the pH and DO values. The DOE-WQI ranged from 71.5-94.6% (mean 86.9%), which corresponded to a classification status range from slightly polluted to clean. With respect to the Malaysia National Water Quality Standards (NWQS), the level of most of the parameters measured remained at Class I which is suitable for the sustainable conservation of the natural environment, for water supply without treatment and as well as for very sensitive aquatic species. It is suggested that monitoring should be carried out continuously for proper management of this river basin.

Keywords: Anthropogenic activities; Department of Environment-Water Quality Index; National Water Quality Standards; southern waters of South China Sea (Malaysia); Terengganu River basin

ABSTRAK

Indeks Kualiti Air-Jabatan Alam Sekitar Malaysia (DOE-WQI) telah ditentukan untuk lembangan Sungai Terengganu yang terletak di perairan selatan Laut China Selatan antara Julai dan Oktober 2008. Pensampelan bulanan telah dilakukan di sepuluh stesen pensampelan yang terletak dalam basin tersebut. Enam parameter yang tersenarai dalam IKA-JAS telah diukur berdasarkan kaedah piawai: pH, keterlarutan oksigen (DO), permintaan oksigen biokimia (BOD), permintaan oksigen kimia (COD), jumlah pepejal terampai (TSS) dan ammonia nitrogen (AN). Keputusan kajian menunjukkan kesan pelbagai aktiviti antropogenik yang menyumbang kepada tingginya nilai BOD, COD, TSS dan AN di stesen yang terletak di bahagian tengah dan hilir sungai, jika dibandingkan dengan bahagian hulu lembangan. Keputusan yang bertentangan diperhatikan untuk nilai pH dan DO. Julat nilai IKA-JAS adalah daripada 71.5-94.6% (purata 86.9%) dengan julat status klasifikasinya antara sedikit tercemar ke bersih. Merujuk kepada Piawai Kualiti Air Kebangsaan (NWQS) untuk Malaysia, kebanyakkan aras parameter yang diukur berada dalam Kelas I yang sesuai untuk pemuliharaan mampan persekitaran semula jadi, untuk bekalan air tanpa rawatan dan untuk spesies akuatik yang sangat sensitif. Adalah dicadangkan, pemantauan seterusnya perlu dilakukan untuk pengurusan yang baik bagi lembangan sungai ini.

Kata kunci: Aktiviti antropogenik; Indeks Kualiti Air-Jabatan Alam Sekitar; lembangan Sungai Terengganu; perairan selatan Laut China Selatan (Malaysia); Piawai Kualiti Air Kebangsaan

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*Corresponding author; email: miman@umt.edu.my