Water Quality Measures Using QUAL2E: A Study on RoL Project at Upper Klang River

Abstract

The degradation of the water quality and ecosystem are vulnerable to urbanization processes and activities. Increase numbers of population and industrial activities continue to increase a consumption of water and followed by the increasing of waste discharges to the natural waterways. These issues are very critical mostly in the developing countries and not excluded to the upper part of the Klang River basin. The current Water Quality Index (WQI) at both inlet and outlet of the study area is falling under Class III. The mitigation processes are needed to improve the index value before further degradation of the river downstream Furthermore the stream flows that passage the city centre of Kuala Lumpur needed to be maintained in order to boost economic sector growth like tourism and other business activities. The Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Government of Malaysia is currently initiating the River of Life (RoL) rehabilitation program to mitigate the water quality and quantity of Klang River. This paper presents the current water quality study of the upper part of Klang River, which consists of six water quality parameter. This study involved an in situ works and followed by a laboratory investigation. Data analysis was carried out using QUAL2E software and proposes mitigation measures which to satisfy the objective of the RoL program. The study area was exposed to a high concentration of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Ammoniacal Nitrogen (AN) which contributed to the pollution of the river. At high numbers of total coliform also redound to the unsafe and unhealthy for portable water. In QUAL2E, a total maximum daily load (TMDL) analysis was calculated from a stream outfall and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) outlet and finally the prediction load was carried out in order to be conformed for Class II. The study shows that the QUAL2E software was performed well in simulating the water quality parameter and able to incorporate in the rehabilitation program at the study area in order to conserve the natural qualities of the environment.