Assessment of Water Quality Parameters for the Old Repas Dam Bentong, Pahang

Authors

  • Kishan G, M.K.Rowshon, Hasfalina Che Man, A Wayayok, Deepak T.J, Lee Siaw Kiat

Abstract

The subsurface contamination cannot be classified as surface water contamination. This is because the aquifers of the groundwater can be contaminated from sources that may not indirectly affect the surface bodies and the irrelevant of point vs non-point sources. Thus, determination of subsurface water status requires analysis of chemical, physical and bacterial characteristics. As a result of development of land, agricultural and cultivation activities occurring on the upstream of Old Repas Dam in Bentong, Pahang, the water quality is expected to deteriorate due to contaminants gaining access into water bodies from various non-point sources (NPS). Taking into consideration that pollutants travel via water bodies, it is highly crucial to investigate the water quality from the basis of its discoloration. This research aimed to analyse parameter of heavy metals associated with the past tin mining activities and its comparison against the Malaysian National Water Quality Standard (NWQS). Besides that, the subsurface quality status and groundwater’s quality classification is explored according to water quality index (WQI) adopted in Malaysia. The main six selected parameters focussed in obtaining WQI include Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Suspended Solid (SS) and Ammoniacal Nitrogen. The effect of past tin mining activities on water quality is determined by the presence of 6 heavy metals namely Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Tin (Sn) and Aluminium (Al). The investigation involves mainly two tests which include abstraction well and observation well.

Published

2020-10-27

Issue

Section

Articles