Spatial Assessment of Water Quality Patterns using Environmetric Techniques: A Case Study in Muda River Basin (Malaysia)

Abstract

River pollution impact human health, environment and the sustainable development. This study was conducted to identify spatial patterns and the main parameters affecting the water pollution within nine monitoring stations in the Muda River basin (Malaysia) over a 16-year database (1998-2013). Environmetric techniques were applied to the dataset. These combined Cluster Analysis, Discriminant Analysis, and Multiple Linear Regression. The Cluster Analysis showed that the monitoring stations divided into two separate groups based on similarities features of water quality while Discriminant Analysis validated these groups. Furthermore, the Multiple Linear Regression analysis showed that the significant parameters contributing to variability the Water Quality Index was biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen. This was due to the point-source pollution, particularly from rubber factory. Therefore, the results provided information to support future water pollution control strategies.

Land Use and River Water Quality Relationships in the Muda River Basin, Malaysia

“…The result is in line with previous findings which suggested that the percentage of agriculture at the watershed scale is the primary predictor of nitrogen [10,11] whereas, lower levels of NH3-N and NO3-N were associated with the forest areas [28]. The use of fertilizers in agriculture activities contributes to the increase of NO3-N in the MRB agricultural land use areas [40]. While, analysis of the effect of forest area on Ca in stream water uncovered that there is a positive and low in strength association between forests and Ca within the 2000 m buffer width (0.10 <R 2 < 0.17, p< 0.05).…”

“…While, analysis of the effect of forest area on Ca in stream water uncovered that there is a positive and low in strength association between forests and Ca within the 2000 m buffer width (0.10 <R 2 < 0.17, p< 0.05). The presence of Ca in the river water in MRB is a result of the natural carbonate dissolution process from the limestone hills near the forest area [40]. The watersheds with natural forests are almost always characterized by better water quality [22,23,24] due to an extensive root network and an excellent ability to generate porously and filtering soils [45,46].…”

“…The Muda River basin (MRB), situated in the north-western part of Peninsular Malaysia is the largest agricultural sector in Malaysia. Agricultural-related operations, such as animal and crop farming, cover approximately 55% of the total area of the MRB [40]. Meanwhile, about 35% of the catchment area is still covered by forests [40].…”

“…Agricultural-related operations, such as animal and crop farming, cover approximately 55% of the total area of the MRB [40]. Meanwhile, about 35% of the catchment area is still covered by forests [40]. Therefore, logging activities, agriculture, and agro-based industries, like rubber and palm oil processing factories, are the main economic activities in the area.…”

“…Meanwhile, the MRB plays a key source of water for domestic and agricultural uses in Kedah and Penang which provides more than 80% of the water requirement for both states. In recent years, concerns have grown regarding the wide variations in water quality indicate that the MRB is affected by various sources [40]. Therefore, there is a need to determine the reasons behind the wide variations in water quality in the catchment area.…”