Variations of groundwater turbidity in the Bandung regency, Indonesia: From community-used water quality monitoring data

Abstract

One of the physical parameters used as an indicator of groundwater quality is turbidity. The high level of turbidity in community groundwater is a problem in Bandung Regency. The turbidity concentration of the highest order, namely Majalaya > Rancaekek > Ciparay > Baleendah > Soreang > Pacet > Pangalengan. The highest percentage of groundwater samples exceeding the maximum permissible limit was found in Rancaekek (88%), followed by Ciparay, Majalaya, Soreang, Baleendah, Pangalengan, and Pacet (87.50%, 81.48%, 73.91%, 62.5%, 55.56%, and 50%, respectively). 24.05% samples that exceeded the maximum permissible limit were used for hygiene, sanitation and drinking purposes. Turbidity level differed significantly based on differences in topography and soil type (p < 0.05), but not with the type of well (p > 0.05). In dug wells, turbidity has a significant negative correlation with depth (p < 0.05). Turbidity has a significant positive correlation with several types of heavy metals, such as Fe, Mn, and Cr (p < 0.05). Thus, a management strategy is needed to minimize the use of groundwater with high concentrations of turbidity, such as outreach to the community regarding inexpensive technology that can be used by the community and/or considering the existence of a piped network service for clean water (especially at 24.05% of the sample exceeding the maximum allowable limit and used for drinking water).