Assessment on water quality and biodiversity within Sungai Batu Pahat

Abstract

Sungai Batu Pahat is undergoing poor condition in term of water quality and riverbank vegetation. This study was focus on determining the status of Sungai Batu Pahat due to quantitative and qualitative of water quality and biodiversity analysis. There are six major water quality parameter that considered in this study which are dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), suspended solid (SS) and pH. Biodiversity parameter consists of fish, zooplankton, phytoplankton, macrobenthos and riverbank vegetation. Water quality shows a consistent level with low quality of water which is class III at upstream and downstream but dropped to class IV at middle stream according to DOE-WQI. This could be a consequence of riverbank landuse activities such as quarry and settlement. If based on biodiversity data, the juvenile commercial fish still exist correspond to >2 mg/L of DO concentration and quality food supply from riverbank vegetation. Generally, the distribution of planktonic life and macroinvertebrates within study area was tidal and mangrove dependent. Biodiversity was found abundance at downstream and present with low number and species at upstream and downstream probably because lands use activities. Biodiversity that mostly found within study area is tolerant species to low dissolved oxygen concentration and pH. The impact of water quality can clearly be seen with respect to macrobenthos habitat. Macrobenthos almost disappeared during study event and only tolerant species was present. However, the abundance of high demanding biodiversity (zooplankton and phytoplankton) giving the good result that Sungai Batu Pahat still can support aquatic life due in term of shelter, feeding and breeding area even, the quality of water shows otherwise.