Spatial and temporal distribution of nutrients in the Ciliwung River, DKI Jakarta

Abstract

The Ciliwung River, one of the largest rivers to run through Jakarta, is particularly important for its water quality because it travels through the city’s center and several settlements, highly populated housing areas, and slums. The growth of algae and macrophytes, or aquatic plants, is dependent on the nutrients in the streams. These plants serve as major food sources for fish and other small invertebrates. This study aimed to describe the distribution of nutrients (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, total nitrogen, and total phosphate) in the Ciliwung River, DKI Jakarta, in terms of both space and time. Water quality was monitored under rainy (February and June 2021) and dry (August and September 2021) conditions. The research area, which included 18 observation stations, was situated in the DKI Jakarta sector along the Ciliwung River. Geographically, all river regions’ concentrations of total nitrogen, nitrate, and total phosphate exceeded the quality criteria; however, ammonia and nitrite tended to be high and did not meet norms across the Ciliwung River area, DKI Jakarta. While ammonia concentrations were greater during the dry season and nitrate concentrations were higher during the rainy season, there was a temporary difference in the concentrations of nitrite, total nitrogen, and total phosphate between the seasons.