Abstract
Urbanization and ever increasing socioeconomic activities have degraded natural resources globally. This study monitored water quality (WQI) based on physicochemical and microbial qualities of river water in an industrial region northwest coast of Borneo. Microbiological parameters tested included total viable count (TVC), coliform count (TC), faecal coliform count (FC), and Escherichia coli confirmation. Physicochemical constituents evaluated included water temperatures (T), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS). The mean microbial counts of samples were: TVC (3.9 × 102–3.0 × 104 cfu mL−1), TC and FC (23–>1600 MPN 100 mL−1) (MPN: the most probable number) and Escherichia coli growth was confirmed. The mean values of pH, TDS, salinity, EC and BOD are significantly different (p < 0.05) between the rivers ranged: pH (5.05 ± 0.03–6.10 ± 0.10), TDS (0.0 ± 0.0–38,600 ± 50 mg L−1), salinity (0.01 ± 0.0–3.07 ± 0.07%), EC (650 ± 25–19,566.67 ± 251.66 µS cm−1), and BOD (0.23 ± 0.10–3.12 ± 0.02 mgO2 L−1). The tested parameters of samples exceeded international limits with the exception of COD and TSS. The WQI of river water tested ranged from 65–73 under class III. Most of the river water was slightly polluted and a potential threat to public health.
Highlights
Water is the most crucial natural resource for life and is used virtually for all the human needs on Earth
Mean total bacteria viable counts detected in water samples collected from the 10 river stations are presented
The total bacteria counts recorded from all rivers exceeded the WHO standard of 1.0 × 102 cfu mL−1
Summary
Water is the most crucial natural resource for life and is used virtually for all the human needs on Earth. Pollution, expanding industrializing economies, the need for increased agricultural production, water-related disasters, and climate change are some of the key reasons for the shortage of clean water resources across Asia. Many rivers in Asia are highly polluted with domestic waste. Many of the region’s rivers contain up to three times the world average of human waste derived bacteria (measured in faecal coliform, or FC) [1]. Agricultural pollution has resulted in high nutrient levels that cause eutrophication, algal blooms that severely damage freshwater ecosystems and hinder their provision of vital environmental services to humans. Industrial pollution levels as indicated by BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) emissions are highest in some Central and Northeast Asian countries, followed by Southeast Asian countries.
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