Kesedaran alam sekitar di kalangan pegusaha batik dan kesan pelepasan efluen

Abstract

This study presents results and discuss on environmental awareness among batik entrepreneurs in relation their business and the effects of batik industry discharge on the receiving water. Batik industries in Malaysia generate income that contributes to economic development. However, the conventional batik making process produces large amounts of effluents with a high concentration of pollutants that required the proper treatment before discharging into the environment. Kota Bharu is famous with batik industry especially at Kampung Sireh and Pantai Cahaya Bulan, the district had been selected as sampling location. The method adopted in this study was through questionnaire survey and wastewater testing from selected batik industries. 30 respondents were chosen for the questionnaire survey and six batik industy premises were selected for water quality monitoring. The data from the questionnaire were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Software Version 22 and wastewater samples were analyzed for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color using HACH Spectrophotometer (DR6000). The Data obtained were analyzed and compared against Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluent) Regulations 2009, Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974. The results of the study showed that the level of environmental awareness and cleaner production practice among batik entrepreneurs in Kota Bharu were low and not widely embraced. Most of them (87%) stated that wastewater discharged without treatment does not affect the environment. The results of the laboratory analyses showed that the three batik factories release wastewater with COD values higher than standard limit 250 mg/L and effluent from batik factories was affecting on the receiving water body. In addition, this study also found that all selected batik factories discharge wastewater with colour exceeded the discharge standard. In conclusion, entrepreneurs had a little knowledge of cleaner production program provided by DOE and the level of environmental awareness among batik entrepreneurs in Kota Bharu is still low. Not all of the batik premises meet the discharge requirements for COD and colour of EQA, 1974 and is affecting the receiving water body.