Water quality assessment at selected sites in Perak and Kinta River

Abstract

This paper describes the water quality study which was carried out at five (5) sampling sites along Sg. Perak and Sg. Kinta respectively. The objective of the study was to examine the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the river and to determine the level and classification at each site based on the Water Quality Index (WQI) and National Water Quality Standards (NWQS). Water samples from the river were subjected to in-situ and laboratory water quality analyses and focused on six (6) important parameters based on WQI which are Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N), and pH. All testing procedures used in this study adhered to the American Public Health Association (APHA) testing procedures. Based on the results obtained, the quality of water for four (4) sampling stations along Sg. Perak can be concluded as CLASS III with only one station concluded as CLASS IV according to the National Water Quality Standards (NWQS). For Sg. Kinta, four sampling stations were classified as CLASS III whereas only one station falls into CLASS II. It is important to determine the WQI at different areas of along the river in order to predict (possible) points of pollution for monitoring purposes.