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A study of spatial and water quality index during dry and rainy seasons at Kelantan River Basin, Peninsular Malaysia

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Abstract

A study was conducted to identify the water quality status of Kelantan River Basin, Peninsular Malaysia, covering five sub-catchments (Nenggiri, Galas, Lebir, Pergau, and Kelantan downstream (DS)) during the dry and rainy seasons. Water samples were collected from 27 sampling stations along the Kelantan River at the years 2017 and 2018. The data consists of temperature, pH, total suspended solid (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (AN), nitrate (NO3), phosphorus (P), and manganese (Mn). The water quality status was identified by calculating the water quality index (WQI) based on the National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia (NWQS) using six parameters. The study explores the spatial approach in assessing water quality status to produce an assessment index. Results showed that water quality status during the dry season at Kelantan River Basin was in class III for all sub-catchments, where the water can only be used for livestock drinking and tolerant species of fishes. Meanwhile, the quality of the water during the rainy season was in class III for the sub-catchments of Lebir, Pergau, and Kelantan DS. The Galas’ sub-catchment was in class IV, and the Nenggiri’s sub-catchment was experiencing the worse condition (in class V). Overall, the water quality in the Kelantan River Basin is at a moderate level, whereby more focus on the Nenggiri’s and the Galas’ sub-catchments should be take it seriously to ensure that the river water pollution levels in Kelantan are well under control.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank UKM for funding this study through research grant DIP-2018-030. The authors gratefully acknowledge to the Earth Observation Centre, Institute of Climate Changes, UKM, and Perunding Teknik Padu Sdn. Bhd for sharing the spatial and water quality data. This manuscript was contributed by all co-authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud & Wan Hanna Melini Wan Mohtar

  2. Earth Observation Centre, Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud & Wan Shafrina Wan Mohd Jaafar

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia

    Arniza Fitri

  4. Perunding Teknik Padu Sdn. Bhd, Lot 192-B, Tingkat satu, Wisma Qistina, Pusat Perniagaan Beris Kubur Besar, 16050, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Nur Zukrina Zuhairi

  5. Faculty of Applied and Social Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

    Mohd Khairul Amri Kamarudin

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  1. Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud
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  2. Arniza Fitri
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  3. Wan Hanna Melini Wan Mohtar
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  4. Wan Shafrina Wan Mohd Jaafar
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  5. Nur Zukrina Zuhairi
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Correspondence to Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud.

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Responsible editor: Biswajeet Pradhan

Highlights

• Water quality status of Kelantan River Basin, Peninsular Malaysia, covering five sub-catchments (Nenggiri, Galas, Lebir, Pergau, and Kelantan downstream) during the dry and rainy seasons.

• Spatial approach in assessing water quality status to produce an assessment index.

• Impact of land use changes towards water quality at Kelantan River Basin was investigated.

• Land use changes especially deforestation is one of the factor for water pollution

• Water quality index able to measure the status of the water quality.

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Abdul Maulud, K., Fitri, A., Wan Mohtar, W. et al. A study of spatial and water quality index during dry and rainy seasons at Kelantan River Basin, Peninsular Malaysia. Arab J Geosci 14, 85 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06382-8

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