Identification of Polluted Sites in Four Major Rivers in Kuantan, Malaysia based on Water Chemistry Estimates of Aquatic Microbial Activity

Daisuke Kozaki, Norhasmira Idayu binti Harun, Chan Hein Chong, Murni Hayati binti Esraruddin, Nor Atiah binti Yunus, Aini Syazana binti Derahman, Kee Seng Pu, Nurul Syazwani binti Alias, Kumutharani A/P Annamalai, Sarmila Nagappan, Mohd Hasbi bin Ab. Rahim and Mashitah M. Yusoff
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Daisuke Kozaki: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Kochi University, 2-5-1 Akebono-cho, Kochi city, Kochi 780-8520, Japan
Norhasmira Idayu binti Harun: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Chan Hein Chong: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Murni Hayati binti Esraruddin: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Nor Atiah binti Yunus: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Aini Syazana binti Derahman: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Kee Seng Pu: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Nurul Syazwani binti Alias: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Kumutharani A/P Annamalai: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Sarmila Nagappan: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Mohd Hasbi bin Ab. Rahim: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
Mashitah M. Yusoff: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Kuantan in Pahang, Malaysia has experienced rapid development and environmental degradation over the past decade following the implementation of The National Physical Plan 2005. To assess water quality and identify polluted areas in the region, we measured the water chemistry and microbial activity in response to land-use changes for four major rivers, namely, Pahang, Kuantan, Belat, and Galing, using data from ion chromatography and portable water quality monitoring devices. The following were concluded: (1) significant differences in chemical oxygen demand, COD concentration among all monitored rivers suggest that COD and its associated biological reactions are key parameters to assess anthropogenic water quality degradation in our study area; (2) due to the low anthropogenic wastewater pollution, the dominant microbial reactions in the Pahang, Kuantan, and Belat rivers were aerobic microbial oxidation of organic compounds and nitrification by nitrifying bacteria, allowing the rivers to self-purify; (3) the Galing River predominantly experiences anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds through microbial denitrification and sulfate reduction due to the heavy anthropogenic land use in the river basin; and (4) the western side of the Galing River and upstream sites located within the industrial and business/servicing areas in the Kuantan city center experience the heaviest pollution.

Keywords: aquatic environmental pollution; land utilization; aquatic biological reaction; South East Asia (Peninsula Malaysia) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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