Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Back ground of study .................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Problem Statement ........................................................................................................................ 4
1.3 Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 5
1.4 Scope of Study .............................................................................................................................. 5
1.5 Significant of study ....................................................................................................................... 5
LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Background of study ..................................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Water quality parameters .............................................................................................................. 6
2.2.1 Physical parameters................................................................................................................ 6
2.2.2 Chemical parameters .............................................................................................................. 7
2.2.3 Biological parameters ............................................................................................................ 9
2.3 Water quality standards............................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Water Pollution ........................................................................................................................... 13
2.4.1 Point Source Pollution ......................................................................................................... 13
2.5 Non-point source ......................................................................................................................... 15
2.5.1 Livestock .............................................................................................................................. 16
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................... 17
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 17
3.3 Laboratory analysis ..................................................................................................................... 18
3.3.1 PH Test................................................................................................................................. 18
3.3.2 Total Suspended Solid Test.................................................................................................. 18
3.3.3 Biochemical Oxygen Demand Test ..................................................................................... 18
3.3.4 Chemical Oxygen Demand Test .......................................................................................... 18
3.3.5 Dissolved Oxygen Test ........................................................................................................ 19
3.3.6 Ammoniacal Nitrogen .......................................................................................................... 19
3.4 Gantt Chart ................................................................................................................................... 20
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................... 21
CHAPTER 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Rivers are important in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem and are also a main
source of water for humans and animals that live in the surrounding area .Rivers also play an
important role in assimilating or carrying away industrial or municipal wastewater, run-off
from agriculture area, sewage from urban areas, and any other anthropogenic factors. Thus,
they are vulnerable to pollution.
The Department of Environment (DOE) in Malaysia uses the Water Quality Index
(WQI) to evaluate the status of river water quality. The WQI serves as the basis for river
assessment in relation to pollution load categorization and the designation of classes of
beneficial uses as provided under the Interim National Water Quality Standard (INWQS) for
Malaysia. In 2007, 1064 stations of river basins in Malaysia were monitored by the DOE. Out
of these 1064 stations, 638 (60%) were found to be clean, 376 (35%) were slightly polluted,
and 50 (5%) were polluted. According to the DOE, the major pollutants are biological oxygen
demand (BOD) ammonia and total suspended solid (TSS).
There are many factors that contribute to the difficulty of assuring the quality and
quantity of water present. Perlis, Malaysia's smallest state, located at the north-western tip of
the Malay Peninsula bounded by Thailand in the north, and by Kedah to the east and south. Its
western coastline borders the Straits of Melaka. It measures approximately 810 km2 and has a
population of 217,480. From January to April the weather is generally warm and dry. Days are
hot and windy but nights can become cold towards dawn. September to December is wet. The
average annual rainfall is within the range of 2000 mL to 2500 mL and humidity is high
throughout the year. Temperature varies little the year round, ranging from 21 to 32 C. Perlis
River has more than 10 tributaries and size of river basin approximately 350 km2. Length of
river is 9.6 km through Kangar City to Kualaperlis.
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Deforestation activities are also closely related to river pollution. Forest acts as a water
catchment area in an environment. It helps to recharge the underground water and the plant
roots bind the soil tightly. As there is clearing and cutting down of forest, the land is no longer
protected. Soil erosion can occur and the soil particles will flush into the nearby river. The
influx of large amounts of soil particles leads to high sedimentation in the river and increases
the suspended solids in the river column. The determination of water quality is important,
because water is frequently being used in our daily life. The water quality measurement is
aimed to make sure that the content of the water supply is safe to use. Water quality testing
(i.e. study of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water) will give
information about the healthiness of the waterways, whether it fulfils the requirements of biotic
species to live or to be used by humans for various purposes.
Therefore, WQI was developed to monitor the water quality changes in a particular area
by the determination of 6 parameters (i.e. DO, BOD, COD, TSS, ammonia and pH). The
seasonal rainfall patterns show a distinct difference between the main and off season rainfalls.
On the whole, the main season (July to December) receives a much higher rainfall than the off
season (January to June). For the main season, the mean rainfall is about 1600 mm but for the
off season it is only about 1000 mm. The wettest month in the region is October. In
comparison, the driest months are January and February. Results of this study are most useful
as a basic guide in various aspects of agricultural planning (Ab. Latif, 1995).
The land use within the watershed has great impacts on the water quality of rivers. The
water quality of rivers may degrade due to the changes in the land cover patterns within the
watershed as human activities increase. Changes in the land cover and land management
practices have been regarded as the key influencing factors behind the alteration of the
hydrological system, which lead to the change in runoff as well as the water quality. There
have been three waves of the research that tried to reveal the effects of the land use and land
cover change on the quality of surface water. The researchers have started to study the linkage
between land cover and the river water quality in order to investigate the effects of
morphological features of watersheds on the turbidity, dissolved oxygen and temperature of
the river water since the early 1960s.
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The second wave of researches on this topic emerged in the 1970s, focusing on the
analysis at the watershed scale. The third wave of these studies have started to take advantage
of the remote sensing, GIS, and multivariate analysis to explore the influence of the land cover
on the suspended sediment, nutrients and ecological integrity of the stream.
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1.2 Problem Statement
Water pollution is a phenomenon that has become the main agenda of the government
whether at the centre of the state want it. It involves the governments image as a whole
and reflects the level of the people towards environmental concerns. Pollution problems not
only in Sungai Perlis even in other rivers throughout Malaysia. Pollution is no longer an
issue to be discussed even the government has spent millions to reduce this pollution
problem. Water pollution occurs due to land development and release of waste or effluent
into the water system, whether on the ground want it in the sea.
The Perlis river are characterized by an abundance of surface flow due to plentiful
rainfall and these rivers also have significant biological resources within the waters
themselves as well as in the terrestrial ecosystems of the riparian zones. The impact of
anthropogenic activities on Perlis Rivers as a result of the increasing rate of urbanization in
Perlis is of a great concern due to the fact that water from these rivers is the source of water
distributed for public use (Department of Irrigation and Drainage, 2011).
This study focuses on determination of water quality index of Perlis River.
Nowadays, it is important to study the level of pollution of the river because when the river
polluted, they can be easily judged by the look, colour and smell of the river. Since that,
water quality is an important factor to judge environment changes, which are strongly
associated with social and economic development. Hence, WQI aim at giving a single
value to the water quality of a source on the basis of one or other system which translates
the list of constituents and their concentrations present in samples into a single value
(Srikanth et al., 2004).
To study the state-level contamination of a river, a lot of data that will be observed
due to this pollution problem is complex and requires detailed study. Data that will be
observed constantly changing and there will be problems in keeping this data. Therefore,
sampling should be done carefully to obtain an accurate data. There is a landfill located in
Kuala Perlis and this directly affects the water quality of the river. Squatters located near
the river reserve area are also causing pollution problems. Other point source pollution
includes shrimp livestock ponds, Kangar Wet Market, Sungai Perlis Esplanade, Food stalls
and the Kuala Perlis Fisherman Jetty. The monitoring of river and stream life provides
remarkable insight into the functional quality of the environment studied. It can reveal
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important changes in the composition of biological communities caused by human
activities. It is also primarily to establish the status of water quality, detect changes and
identify pollution sources.
1.3 Objectives
I. The main objective of the present study is to assess the water quality index of Perlis
River, located in Perlis state.
II. The specifics objective is to assess this surface water quality index by seasonal variation
during southwest and northeast monsoon seasons and through differences land uses.
For this study it to focus on the land use influence wet season and dry season at Perlis
River. Perlis River is a major river in the state of Perlis, while there are six another river, namely
Sungai lencongan Utara, Sungai Repoh, Sungai Bakong, Sungai Seriab, Sungai Kayang, and
Sungai Korok. This study conduct the water sample collection from October 20117 to February
2018. We will take water samples at 3 different stations at Perlis River, then we determinate
water quality index (WQI). Therefore WQI will develop to monitor the water quality changes
in a particular area by the determination of 6 parameters (i.e. DO, BOD, COD, TSS, ammonia
and PH).
The benefits of this study we will know the difference between land use and seasonal
variation it is necessary for effective water quality. Its also help us how we can get fresh water
from the rivers because this study it purifies all of the water content in to the rivers. We know
that 70% of the earth consist water, only 3% is fresh water. So that all the drinking waters
comes from the surface water such as lakes rivers dams and so on, the benefits of this study
help us how we can use these waters, irrigation, ecosystem, recreational use, livestock
watering, raw water for drinking water supply, development of criteria, amenity use, protection
of aquatic life, commercial and sports fishing and Suspended particulate matter and sediment.
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CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
The literature review was necessary to evaluate the existing river or water quality
indexes (local and international) and to determine their suitability to assess the water quality
collect data samples from the river stations. The literature review also helped propose a new
unique index with the main intention to assess the river status based on the quantity (flow) and
quality data collected from the river stations.
Having good water quality is important for a healthy river and ecosystem. Several basic
conditions must be met for aquatic life to thrive in the water. When these conditions are not
optimal, species populations become stressed. When conditions are poor, organisms may die.
Thus, various water quality parameters need to be measured in order to determine the health of
the river water so that it is safe to use for any purpose. In order to develop a water quality or
river index, there are several parameters that need to be considered. These parameters can be
divided into four groups, which are physical, chemical, biological and radioactive.
There are many types of physical parameters such as temperature, turbidity, total
dissolved solids, etc. used for the evaluation of water quality. Each of the parameters has
significant impact on the water quality.
2.2.1.1 PH
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does not harm to human health. High pH can cause aesthetic problems such as an alkali
taste to the water that makes coffee taste bitter (Masona, 2007).
2.2.1.2 Turbidity
Turbidity use colorimetric scales to measure the clarity of a liquid. Samples express
of the optical property that causes a light to be scattered and absorbed. Turbidity is a measure
of the opacity or translucence of water. Unit of turbidity usually nephelometric turbidity
units (or NTU) based on a primary turbidity standard called formalin. Plankton (both
animal and plant), clay, suspended clay, slit and so on cause turbidity. Clear water has a
low turbidity level and cloudy or muddy water has a high turbidity level. High Turbidity in
water will be many suspended particles that destructive to many aquatic organisms (Masona,
2007).
There are many types of chemical parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand,
chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, ammonicial nitrogen, etc.
used for the evaluation of water quality. Each of the parameters has significant impact on the
water quality
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are solids in water that can be trapped by a filter. TSS
can include a wide variety of material, such as silt, decaying plant and animal matter, industrial
wastes, and sewage. High concentrations of suspended solids can cause many problems for
stream health and aquatic life.
High TSS can block light from reaching submerged vegetation. As the amount of light
passing through the water is reduced, photosynthesis slows down. Reduced rates of
photosynthesis causes less dissolved oxygen to be released into the water by plants. If light is
completely blocked from bottom dwelling plants, the plants will stop producing oxygen and
will die. As the plants are decomposed, bacteria will use up even more oxygen from the water.
Low dissolved oxygen can lead to fish kills. High TSS can also cause an increase in surface
water temperature, because the suspended particles absorb heat from sunlight.
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2.2.2.2 Biochemical oxygen demand
Dissolved oxygen (DO) is vital for all higher aquatic life and it must be sufficient
supply. Low DO concentration in rivers associated with impact and problems. With anaerobic
condition in river system, there are unbalanced ecosystem with fish mortality, odours and
other aesthetic nuisances. Factors such as consumption by aerobic organisms, plant, water
temperature, water flow and depth are control the concentration of DO. High temperature
will cause more high DO level in water. High DO can make better dirking water taste but
low DO levels can put fish under stress and river pollution (Cox, 2003).
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2.2.2.5 Ammoniacal nitrogen
There are many types of physical parameters such as faecal contamination etc. used for
the evaluation of water quality. Each of the parameters has significant impact on the water
quality.
Drinking water that is contaminated with bacteria and parasites from human and
animal excreta to be cons ump and associated with high health risk and cause of diarrhea.
Diarrhea hits 1.5 billion people worldwide per year and five million were killed most of them
are children under five. Ecoli bacteria and Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites are main
pathogens.
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2.3 Water quality standards
Water that is consumed by human beings, without any treatment requires the highest
water quality standards. Diseases occur by drinking contaminated water can be very diverse,
but most of the times symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting occur. Half the population in
the developing world is suffering from one of these diseases associated with water supply
and sanitation (Masona, 2007).
The Ministry of Health established the National Drinking Water Quality Standards
(NDWQS) in 1983. The standards stipulate limits for physical, chemical, microbiological
and radiological documentation is available to ensure effective implementation of the
standards and include information on the National Programme for Drinking Water Quality
Surveillance, and the Manual of Drinking Water Quality Surveillance. Department of
Environment (DOE) has developed Interim National Water Quality Standards (INWQS) that
classifies inland water quality into 5 classes: domestic water supply fisheries and aquaculture,
irrigation, livestock, and recreation, each with its own set of biological, chemical and physical
parameters.
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Table 2.1: Interim National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia (DOE, 2007)
CLASSES
PARAMETERS UNIT I IIA IIB III IV V
Ammoniacal Mg/l 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.9 2.7 >2.7
Nitrogen
BOD Mg/l 1 3 3 6 12 >12
COD Mg/l 10 25 25 50 100 >100
DO Mg/l 7 5-7 57 3-5 <3 <1
pH 6.5-8.5 6-9 69 5-9 5-9 -
Color TCU 15 150 150 - - -
Elec. Conductivity* umhos/cm 1000 1000 - - 6000 -
Floatables N N N - -
Odor N N N - - -
Salinity % 0.5 1 - - 2 -
Taste N N N - - -
Total Dissolved Solid Mg/l 500 1000 - - 4000 -
Total Suspended Mg/l 25 50 50 150 300 300
Solid
Temperature C - Normal Normal - -
+20C +20C
Turbidity NTU 5 50 50 - - -
Faecal Coliform** counts/ 10 100 400 5000 5000 -
100mL
(20000) (20000)
Total Coliform counts/ 1000 5000 5000 50000 50000 >50000
a a
100mL
** : Geometry mean.
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Table 2.2: Classification of River Water, DOE-WQI Standard (DOE, 2007)
Class Uses
CLASS
IIA
Water Supply II - conventional treatment required.
Fishery II - sensitive aquatic species.
CLASS
IIB
Recreational use with body contact.
CLASS
III
Water Supply III - extensive treatment required.
Class IV Irrigation.
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2.4 Water Pollution
Water are very important to human environment. Water play crucial role in general
development in socio-economical issues to the society as well as industries, agricultural
activities and for the public use (Machiwa, 2003). Excessive loadings of pollution into
river, lakes, reservoir and estuaries have become contribution to major cause of water
pollution. Source of pollution can be categorized in two types, point source pollution and
non- point source pollution.
Point source pollution is a single identible localized source. Point sources of water
pollution include discharge from municipal sewage treatment plant discharges and industrial
plant.
Non- point source pollution is water pollution affecting a water body from diffuse
sources, such as human landuse, landuse changes, pollutes runoff from agricultural areas
draining into a river (Shresta, 2008).
Point source pollution that can be traced back to a single origin or source such as a
sewage treatment plant discharged. Point sources are relatively easy to identify, quantify and
control. The point source pollutions are mainly from municipal and industrial wastewater.
Excessive nutrient into river and lake cause problem to water resource quality (Zhang, 2005).
Many developing countries suffer increasingly due to degradation of water quality of
their country river. Human activities in river catchments have give rising of water bodies
in Penang urban and urban areas. Untreated wastewater has increasing to surface waters
discharge from aquaculture, as a point source, animal farm and poultry production as well
as industries and domestic areas. Degradation of water quality is a threat to the ecosystem
and human healthy respectively (Schaffner et. al., 2009).
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2.4.1.1: Industrial Waste
Industrial wastes commonly known are associated with numerous waste related
environmental problems. Industrial waste generally has a higher public health and
environmental risk potential. Industrial waste exposed to environmental during storage,
collection, transportation, and treatment as well as disposal. Industries tend to concentrates
pollution by emit more concentrates pollutants and higher pollution discharges on per-sources
terms. Industries and their infrastructure can cause serious environmental degradation even
irreversible environmental impacts. (Mbuligwe, 2006).
One of point source is emission from domestic waste. The deposition and burning
of domestic waste can cause a profound strain on the environment. The effects ranging
from contamination of ground water resources, organic and inorganic pollution of nearby
lakes and rivers, and the carbon dioxide release from incineration plants contributing to
global heating (Poulsen, 1995).
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2.5 Non-point source
Non-point source pollution cannot be traced back to a single origin or source such
as storm water runoff, water runoff urban areas or failed septic systems. Non- point source
pollution occurs as water as water moves across the land or through the ground and pick
up natural and human-made pollutants, which can then be deposited in lakes, rivers, wetlands,
coastal waters, and even groundwater. The water that carries non-point source pollution
may originate from natural processes such as rainfall or snowmelt, or from human activities
such as crop irrigation or lawn maintenance.
Non-point source pollution comes from many diffuse sources. No- point source
pollution can include excess fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands
and residential areas, oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy
production, bacteria and nutrient from lives tock, pet wastes and faulty septic systems. Non-
point source of surface and subsurface water contamination linked to agricultural activities
such as on-farm use of agrochemicals. Agricultural chemicals transported by surface runoff
cause the pollution of stream (Ismail, 2007).
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2.5.1 Livestock
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CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
This chapter previews the flow of process from the beginning until the final stages. The
methods that are going to be applied is a laboratory analysis such as ph. test, thermometer test,
turbidity test dissolved oxygen nitrates test and phosphate test. The flow chart of the study and
the Gantt chart are ways to help organizing the time and the progress and both will been show.
3.2 Flow Chart
Start
Collect water
sample
Measurement of six
parameters
Laboratory Analysis
Result collection
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3.3 Laboratory analysis
3.3.1 PH Test
The quantity of hydrogen or hydroxyl ions in a solution determines whether the solution
is acid or alkaline. Using a logarithmic scale, pH measures, the relative alkalinity or acidity of
a solution. Ph will involve according to the measurement in to the direct measurement such as
probe.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are solids in water that can be trapped by a filter. Total
suspended solid will involve according to the measurement in to this standard measurement
APHA 2540 D, 2005. TSS can include a wide variety of material, such as silt, decaying plant
and animal matter, industrial wastes, and sewage.
The chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of water and wastewater quality.
The COD test is often used to monitor water treatment plant efficiency. Cod will involve
according to the measurement in to this standard APHA 5500-0 D, 2005. This test is based on
the fact that a strong oxidizing agent, under acidic conditions, can fully oxidize almost any
organic compound to carbon dioxide.
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3.3.5 Dissolved Oxygen Test
The level of oxygen gas dissolved in water (DO) is vital for the survival of most aquatic
organisms as it provides them with oxygen to carry out cellular respiration. Dissolved oxygen
will involve according to the measurement in to this standard APHA 4500-0 G, 2005. It is
therefore an important indicator of the quality of water quality.
Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) is a measure for the amount of ammonia, and will involve
according to the measurement in to this standard method 8038. A toxic pollutant often found
in landfill leachate and in waste products, such as sewage, liquid manure and other liquid
organic waste products.
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3.4 Gantt Chart
The proposed Gantt chart shows the method in which the project is anticipated to be
managed. Following the production of the method statement and a more detailed sampling strategy,
a more comprehensive plan can be manufactured.
Measurement of six
parameters
Laboratory analysis
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physicochemical characteristic and heavy metal profiles of Nigerian
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Carr, G. M., & Neary, J. P. (2006). Water quality for ecosystem and human
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Chang N.B., Chen H.W. and Ning SK. (2001). Identification of river water
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