Benthic macroinvertebrate as an alternative tool for biological monitoring in assessing river water quality

Abstract

Water quality monitoring based on invertebrate aquatic life is capable of giving a short and easy approach to assess water quality status. In order to determine the quality of water, the method selected in monitoring is very important. Assessment is carried out through collection and identification of the indicator which comprises of invertebrate especially aquatic insect. This study focus on pollution level in Melana River, Skudai, Johor. The methods applied in this study including physical and chemical analysis and biological monitoring. The water quality parameters involved are dissolve oxygen (DO), pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (AN) and total suspended solid (TSS), meanwhile the Water Quality Index (WQI) for each station were calculated. From the result, Melana River is classified into Class IV or polluted whereas the Biological Water Quality Index (BWQI) indicate Melana River as slightly polluted with the score in between 3.8 to 4.0, showing both of these river are ratherdirty. This method can be applied to any river to identify their pollution river.