Using Non-supervised Artificial Neural Network for Determination of Anthropogenic Disturbance in a River System.

Nurul Ruhayu Mohd Rosli,Khairun Yahya

doi:10.21315/tlsr2017.28.2.14

Abstract

The study of river water quality plays an important role in assessing the pollution status and health of the water bodies. Human-induced activities such as domestic activities, aquaculture, agriculture and industries have detrimentally affected the river water quality. Pinang River is one of the important rivers in Balik Pulau District that supplies freshwater for human consumption. A total of 442 physical and chemical parameters data of the Pinang River, Balik Pulau catchment were analysed to determine the sources of pollutants entering the river. Non-supervised artificial neural network (ANN) was employed to classify and cluster the river into upstream, middle-stream and downstream zones. The monitored data and non-supervised ANN analysis demonstrated that the source of nitrate was derived from the upper part of the Pinang River, Balik Pulau while the sources of nitrite, ammonia and ortho-phosphate are predominant at the middle-stream of the river system. Meanwhile, the sources of high total suspended solid and biological oxygen demand were concentrated at the downstream of the river.

Highlights

Pinang River, one of the important rivers in Balik Pulau district in Malaysia, is heavily impacted by anthropogenic activities such as domestic activities, aquaculture and agriculture (DOE, 2008)
The monitored data and non-supervised artificial neural network (ANN) analysis demonstrated that the source of nitrate was derived from the upper part of the Pinang River, Balik Pulau while the sources of nitrite, ammonia and ortho-phosphate are predominant at the middle-stream of the river system
The results from this study indicate that Pinang River is being polluted by human sewage from domestic areas

Summary

Introduction

Pinang River, one of the important rivers in Balik Pulau district in Malaysia, is heavily impacted by anthropogenic activities such as domestic activities, aquaculture and agriculture (DOE, 2008). The creeks flowing into the Pinang River, Balik Pulau receive untreated wastewater discharge directly from small villages situated along the river. The Pinang River, Balik Pulau catchment area supplies freshwater to more than 53,000 people in the Penang Island of Malaysia. It is important to ensure that the water is safe for drinking. The guidelines for drinking water as proposed by DOE (2008) and WHO (2008) are important efforts to monitor any source of pollution that endangers human health. The objective of this study was to identify the sources of pollutants that enter into the Pinang River, Balik Pulau

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion