1.

0 INTRODUCTION

Water is the primary transport mechanism for solutes and sediments to reach streams,
channels and tributaries. Water quality embodied by the chemical, physical, and
biological characteristics of water in which these attributes affect the suitability of water
for human consumption and ecosystem needs (Sidnei et al.,1992). As mentioned by
Sidnei et. al, (1992) substances that dissolve in water are the chemical constituent in
which consist of gases, metals, nutrients, various organic compounds, and pesticides.
Odor and turbidity are the common physical characteristics of water while biological
constituents of water are the biota including bacteria, phytoplankton, viruses, insects,
plants, and fish (Sidnei et al., 1992).

It is estimated that water used for the household purposes covered 8% of the
worldwide water use, 22% of industrial uses, and 70% of the major usage is used for crop
irrigation (Sterling & Vintinner, 2008). Sterling and Vintinner, (2008) mentioned almost
half of the worlds food are provided by the irrigation land and it accounts for the
majority of water use. Even though drinking water is a small fraction of all water used, it
is most critical due to its impact on human health (Sterling & Vintinner, 2008). Due to
this matter, many probably think of water quality primarily in reference to drinking water.
With such, there are dominant concern regarding drinking water quality is the capability
for disease transmittal.

Department of Environment conducts annual monitoring of river water quality

throughout Malaysia. There are many factors that affecting water and sediment quality
such as climate change and also human activities itself. Water quality is often been
describes as concentration of different chemicals.
2.0 OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the water quality in one of the East Campus Lake.

2. To study the sources of pollutant in one of the East Campus Lakes.

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1 Sampling

The water sample was collected at three stations at the lake of UNIMAS East Campus.
For water samples, three replicates were obtained which is 0.1m from water surface.
3.2 Pre-sampling preparation

Before sampling, the 1L polyethylene bottles were soaked in acid wash solution for 24
hours. After that, the bottles is washed with tap water and rinsed with distilled water.
Then, let the bottles died. For dissolved oxygen, 250 mL BOD bottle were prepared.
Aluminium foils need to be prepared to wrap the BOD bottles. The filter paper for total
suspended solid (TSS) which is 47mm diameter with grade of mgb and brand of Sartious
Stedim need to be soaked in distilled water for 24 hours. Then, the filter paper was placed
in the oven at 105C until constant weight were obtained.

3.3 Equipment

The equipments used for insitu measurement were WalkLAB Microprocessor pH meter
TI900, YSI Pro20 Dissolved Oxygen Meter, Secchi disk, Martini instruments Portable
turbidity meter and DR900 Multiparameter Handheld Colorimeter.

3.4 Lab analysis

3.4.1 In-situ parameter

Transparency was measured by using Secchi disk with measurement tape. DO was
determined by YSI Pro20 Dissolved Oxygen Meter. pH of water was measured by
WalkLAB Microprocessor pH meter TI900. The temperature of water sample was
measured by WalkLAB Microprocessor pH meter TI9000 while the turbidity of water
sample was determined by Martini instruments Portable turbidity meter.

3.4.2 Ex-situ parameter

(i) BOD5

To determined BOD5, the data was record as initial DO. Then, it stored in cool box for
5days. The term BOD5 means it has been standardized to be completed in 5 days. The
BOD5 value is most commonly expressed in milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre of
sample.BOD5 is calculated using this formula :
 BOD5(mg/L) = Initial DO - Final DO / P

P = Dilution factor

Dilution factor = Volume of bottles (mL) / Volume of samples (mL)

(ii) Total Suspended Solid

According to American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association,

Water Environment Federation, (1999), TSS was measured by filtering the water sample
using a filter pump. The volume of water filtered depends on the turbidity of the water
sample. Water sample with high turbidity, usually needs about 500 mL to be filtered and
water sample with high turbidity needs 1L water sample to be filtered. As the stations
have low turbidity, the total volume water samples filtered for Station 1, Station 2, Station
3 and Station 4 are 1L. The filter paper with brand of SartoriusStedim with MGB grade
and diameter of 47mm was weighed before being use. After filter the water, placed the
filter paper in the oven for 24 hours. Lastly, weigh the filter paper until the weight is
constant by using the analytical balance.

Total Suspended Solids, mg/L = (A-B) / C

Where: A = weight of filter and dish + residue in mg

B = weight of filter and dish in mg

C = volume of sample filtered in mL

(iii) Nitrate-N

According to Hach Method, nitrate was measured by using DR900 Multiparameter using
the Method 1892:Cadmium Reduction Method. The filtrate of TSS were used rot this
analysis where the water was filtered using the filter paper with brand of SartoriusStedim
with MGB grade and diameter of 47mm. Set the program of DR900 to 351 N, Nitrate
LR . Firstly, set the program of DR900 to 351 N, Nitrate LR. Then prepare the sample by
filling the mixing cylinder with 15 mL of sample. After that, NitraVer 6 reagent was
added and 3-minute reaction time was started. After the time expired, 10mL of sample
into was carefully added into a sample cell and NitriVer 3 reagent powder pillow was
added. The timer was started with 30-seconds reaction time. Then, the instrument was
started again for 15 minutes reaction. While waiting for the timer expired, the blank was
prepared by filling the sample cell with 15 mL of the original sample. After 15 minutes,
the blank was placed into the cell holder and push zero. Lastly the prepared was placed in
the sample cell and push read which showed the concentration of the nitrate in the water
sample in the unit of mg/L.

(iv) Nitrite-N

According to Hach method, nitrate-nitrogen was measured by using DR900

Multiparameter using the Method 8507:USEPA diazotization method. The filtrate of TSS
were used rot this analysis where the water was filtered using the filter paper with brand
of SartoriusStedim with MGB grade and diameter of 47mm. Nitrite is one of the nutrients
that are highly abundance in the water. Firstly, the sample was prepared by filling the
sample cell with 10 mL of sample. Then. NitriVer3 reagent powder pillow was added and
swirled to mix. The instrument was started for 20 minutes reaction. While waiting for
times expired, the blank was prepared by filling the sample cell with 10 mL of sample.
After 20 minutes, the blank was placed into the cell holder and push zero. Lastly, the
prepared sample was placed in the cell holder and push read that showed the
concentration of nitrite-nitrogen in the unit of mg/L.
4.0 RESULTS

4.1 In situ parameters

(i) Temperature

Stations Replicate Temperature (C) Average temperature

(C)
1 R1 29.1 29.2
R2 29.3
R3 29.1
2 R1 28.9 28.9
R2 28.9
R3 28.9
3 R1 29.0 29.0
R2 29.0
R3 29.1

(ii) pH

Stations Replicate pH Average pH

1 R1 7.29 7.29
R2 7.28
R3 7.29
2 R1 8.13 8.12
R2 8.11
R3 8.11
3 R1 7.61 7.63
R2 7.65
R3 7.64

(iii) Turbidity

Stations Replicate Turbidity (NTU) Average turbidity

1 R1 18.21 18.21
R2 18.22
R3 18.21
2 R1 13.29 13.28
R2 13.27
R3 13.29
3 R1 9.85 9.86
R2 9.86
R3 9.86
(iv) Transparency

Stations Replicate Transparency Average transparency

(cm) (cm)
1 R1 41 41.3
R2 42
R3 41
2 R1 51 50.7
R2 51
R3 50
3 R1 51 50.7
R2 51
R3 50

4.2 Exsitu parameters

(i) BOD5

Stations Replicate BOD5 (mg/L) Average BOD5 (mg/L)

1 R1 1.5 1.57
R2 1.5
R3 1.7
2 R1 1.8 1.83
R2 1.8
R3 1.9
3 R1 2.1 2.13
R2 2.1
R3 2.2

(ii) Total Suspended Solid

Stations Replicate Total Suspended Average total suspended

Solid (mg/L) solid (mg/L)
1 R1 22.71 23.11
R2 23.63
R3 22.98
2 R1 12.11 12.60
R2 12.54
R3 13.15
3 R1 8.54 8.76
R2 8.98
R3 8.77
(iii) Nitrate-nitrogen

Stations Replicate Concentration of Average concentration

nitrate-nitrogen (mg/L)
(mg/L)
1 R1 0.20 0.21
R2 0.21
R3 0.22
2 R1 0.11 0.11
R2 0.12
R3 0.11
3 R1 0.10 0.10
R2 0.09
R3 0.11

(iv) Nitrite-nitrogen

Stations Replicate Concentration of Average concentration

nitrate-nitrogen (mg/L)
(mg/L)
1 R1 0.025 0.025
R2 0.025
R3 0.024
2 R1 0.018 0.017
R2 0.017
R3 0.017
3 R1 0.017 0.016
R2 0.016
R3 0.016
5.0 DISCUSSIONS

The average temperature of the stations is from 28.9C to 29.2C. Station 1 measured the
highest temperature with 29.2C. Station 1 also record the highest value of pH with 8.12.
The temperature and pH is related to each other. Besides, the temperatures affect the
microbial activities of the organism in the lakes. To get an accurate result, we went for
sampling at the early morning as it is the minimum activity of the sunlight. The sunlight
can degrade the activities of microorganism.

Water transparency depends on the amount of particles in the water. These particles can
be algae or sediment from erosion. The higher the water transparency, the higher the
amount of particle in the water. Turbidity is a measure of degree to which the water loses
its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates. The more total suspended
solids in the water, the murkier it seems and the higher turbidity.

The total suspended value of the lake water is 0.220 mg/L. The higher total suspended
value shows that there is a lot of microbial and particles inside the lakes. The higher total
suspended value may be come from the activities nearby the lakes. The lake is nearby
with the Engsurai Caf. The caf owner might be discharged their food waste inside the
lake.

The nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen values of the water sample are 0.21 mg/L and
0.018 mg/L respectively. This shows that nitrogen species (nitrate and nitrite) is one of
the pollutants found in the lake.

6.0 CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, by conducting the experiment, the major source of pollutants at the East
Unimas lake is the Ensurai caf.
7.0 REFERENCES

APHA. AWWA. and WEPA. (1998). Standard method for the examination of water and
wastewater. 20th edition. Washington, DC20005-2605.

Sterling., E., & Vintinner, E. (2008). How much is left? An overview of the crisis. In T.
Lohan (Ed)., Water consciousness-How we all have to change to protect our most
critical resource (pp 15-25). San Francisco, SF: AlterNet Books.

Lah, S. S. (2014). Integrated Water Resources Management Case Studies: Unimas Lake.

Eaton,A. & Franson, M. (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and
wastewaters, 21th edition, AWWA.