Determination of Water Quality Degradation Due to Industrial and Household Wastewater in the Galing River in Kuantan, Malaysia Using Ion Chromatograph and Water Quality Data

Abstract

Water quality of the Galing River in Kuantan, Malaysia was examined to understand the anthropogenic environmental load in each administrative section, using water quality monitoring data and land use pattern. The National Physical Plan 2005 identified Kuantan as one of the country's future growth centers, which has resulted in rapid development and environmental degradation in the past decade. Multiple water quality indexes used by the Department of Environment, Malaysia and concentrations of several ionic species were examined to assess the river's water quality. The following inferences were drawn in this study: (1) Cl − and Na + concentrations indicated that the basin area near the eastern urbanized area was subject to lesser human influence and lower environmental burden; (2) the Western side of the Galing River was subject to higher anthropogenic influence and indicated lower class levels of ammoniacal nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and dissolved oxygen, compared to the eastern side; (3) Class V or near class V pH values were obtained upstream at the western side of the Galing River in the industrial area; (4) Two types of environmental burden were identified in the western side of the Galing River, namely, inflow of industrial wastewater upstream on the western side and the effect of household wastewater or untreated raw sewage wastewater.

Assessment of Water Quality Profile Using Numerical Modeling Approach in Major Climate Classes of Asia

“…For example, the spatial profile for BOD and DO varied from 10 to 22 mg/L Class II–III and 1.85–4.5 mg/L (Class V–III), respectively. The findings of previous studies also revealed that the quality of the waterway is very poor [ 78 , 79 ]. All of the simulated variables (BOD, DO, TN, and pH) show the lower error value of MAE, MSE, RMSE, NRMSE, and MAPE with observing values for the QUAL2Kw model.…”

“…Presently, the general quality of Galing River is very poor, and is described as Class IV based on the water quality standard of Malaysia [ 77 ]. The river water quality has primarily deteriorated due to pollutants discharged from both residential and commercial settlements without adequate treatment [ 78 , 79 , 80 ]. The Galing waterway is the prime drainage system for the entire metropolitan area of Kuantan, and it drifts through the furthermost built-up area of Kuantan city, sited in the eastern coastal region of the Malaysian peninsula.…”

“…Over the past decade, due to the enactment of the “Kuantan District Locality Plan 2004–2015”, the area has been developing very rapidly, resulting in major environmental and ecological poverty. The coastline area of Pahang state has been remarkably urbanized and forested, and agricultural sections have decreased in size and have been converted to land for residential and industrial buildings [ 77 , 78 , 79 , 81 ]. The river begins in the Semamb industrial zone and meets the Kuantan River at site 8 km upstream from the coast of the South Sea [ 77 ].…”

Identification of Polluted Sites in Four Major Rivers in Kuantan, Malaysia based on Water Chemistry Estimates of Aquatic Microbial Activity

“…The third, the Belat River, is the 2nd largest river in Kuantan and a source of water supply for domestic usage, covering 43.27 km 2 of the catchment area [20]. Finally, the Galing River is located in the most urbanized area in Kuantan, as shown in Figure 1, and its length and catchment area coverage are 7.7 km and 22.7 km 2 , respectively [21].…”

Surface Water Quality Evaluation Based on a Game Theory-Based Cloud Model

“…However, this accelerated human activity has had a negative effect on the water environment in recent decades, contributing to pollution of rivers, estuaries and oceans, especially in developing countries [4,5]. Undoubtedly, water quality degradation has been acknowledged as one of the most severe environmental issues worldwide since it disrupts the ecological balance of water bodies and threatens regional environmental security [6][7][8]. Therefore, this issue attracts significant attention across the world.…”