Identification and Calculation of Pollutant Load in Ciwaringin Watershed, Indonesia: Domestic Sector

Abstract

Ciwaringin River is a major river in Ciwaringin watershed that is used as a source of water for daily activities, such as, agricultural and fishery, in Majalengka and Cirebon cities. Recently, population growth and its related activities in the watershed are feared to increase pollutant load in Ciwaringin River. The objectives of this study are to determine the water quality and to calculate pollutant load in Ciwaringin watershed, as an effort to control the river pollution. The water quality is obtaines from the sampling undertaken by DLH of West Java, which was then analysed by calculating its Pollution Index. The Pollution Index was calculated in accordance with Ministry of Environment Decree No.113/2003 on the Determination of Water Quality Status. Whilst, the pollutant load was analysed by identiying activities along the river that potentially contaminate the Ciwaringin River,namely the domestic, argicultural, and animal husbandry, and calculate the pollutant load of resepective activities. Results showed that selected segments in Ciwaringin watershed have a pollutant index value >5, which is classified as medium pollution level. As for the pollutant load from domestic sector, it was calculated that based on data in August 2016, the watershed is potentially polluted by 855.27 Kg/day of TSS, 2,448.65 kg/day of BOD, 410,245.82 kg/day of COD, 142,15 kg/day of N-Total, and 1.15 Kg/day of P-Total. These pollutant values were then compared with the standard quality of Goverment Decree No.82/2001 on Water Quality Management and Water Pollution Control which includes physical (TSS) and chemical parameters (BOD, COD, N and P).