Physico-chemical properties and pollution status of the rivers at Konaweha watershed, Southeast Sulawesi

Abstract

The Lasolo - Konaweha watershed is a river area in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is a source of water for various sectors including irrigation and non-irrigation needs, and functions as a source of drinking water for several communities and industries. However, population growth and human activities have led to water quality degradation in the area. Many methods of determining water quality status have been developed, one of them is the pollution index (PI) method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of physico-chemical and determine the pollution status of the Lasolo – Konaweha watershed. The study utilized secondary data from the Hydrology and Water Quality Unit of the Sulawesi IV River Basin Center in Kendari, collected in 2020. The water quality data were analyzed according to the Government Regulations of Republic Indonesia No. 22 of 2021, and the pollution status was determined using the pollution index (PI) method. The water quality data were compared spatiotemporally using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study found that several parameters were outside the water quality standards, including pH, total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), methylene blue active substances (MBAS), and phenol. These parameters indicated a moderate to heavily polluted status for the Lasolo - Konaweha watershed. The study also found a strong correlation between water discharge and conductivity.