Water quality assessment and evaluation of human health risks in the Pusur River, Klaten Regency, Central Java, Indonesia.

Abstract

This research examines the condition of the water characteristics of the Pusur River to provide data regarding water quality status and risks to human health. In determining the water quality use the NSF-WQI, or National Sanitation Foundation-Water Quality Index based on the main water quality parameters, including temperature, fecal coliform, turbidity, pH, DO, COD, and nitrate. The WQI at the Sudimoro Village location is 37.50, Cokro is 43.54, Wangen is 39.51, Delanggu is 35.45, Juwiring is 38.05, and Taji Village is 34.92. From these six locations, the WQI values are all included in the bad criteria (scores of 26-50). The low WQI values at the six locations were influenced by the low values of the DO, nitrate, temperature, and fecal coliform sub-indices. This low value is related to anthropogenic activities in the region. Furthermore, the data were subjected to applications of the Chronic Daily Index (CDI) Hazard Quotient (HQ), and Hazard Index (HI) to reveal possible non-carcinogenic health risks from nitrate and cadmium contaminants. The hazard quotient through exposure to ingestion from each sampling point includes low risk, namely the value range of 0.1 < HI < 1 for adults and children. Water from rivers must be adequately treated before being used for domestic purposes.