Study of water quality for Sungai Perlis, Perlis during high and low tides

Abstract

The aims of the study are to establish the pollutant profile along Sungai Perlis during high and low tides based on physical and chemical parameters and relate the water quality with the land used along the river. Sungai Perlis is the main river in Perlis, Malaysia with size of river basin approximately 310 km2. Three station points were selected along Sungai Perlis which are one station at the upstream, one station at the middle stream and one at the downstream. Six parameters were selected which are DO, BOD, COD, TSS, AN and pH. From the findings, the water quality index during high tide for upstream and downstream of Sungai Perlis are in Class II, whereas during low tide, it classified in Class III. However, no changes in water quality index during high and low tides for middle stream of Sungai Perlis, which is in Class III. The pollutant profiles also showed that the river were less polluted during high tide compared to low tide. The land use activities along Sungai Perlis include residential areas, recreational, agricultural, commercial, construction and fisheries located at Kuala Perlis which are directly and indirectly also contributes to the water quality of Sungai Perlis.