American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (6): 737-749, 2012 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2012.12.06.6337 Hydrological Assessment and Water Quality Characteristics of Chini Lake, Pahang, Malaysia 1M. Sujaul Islam, 11B.S. Ismail, G. Muhammad Barzani, 12A.R. Sahibin and T. Mohd Ekhwan 1School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology 2School of Social Development and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the hydrological properties and water quality characteristics of Chini Lake in Pahang, Malaysia. A total of seven sampling stations were established at the main Feeder Rivers of Chini Lake for measurement of stream flow. A total of 10 monitoring stations covering the study area were selected for water sampling. Fourteen water quality parameters were analyzed based on in-situ and ex-situ analysis for two seasons and laboratory analyses were carried out according to the HACH and APHA methods. Stream flow from the seven Feeder Rivers into the Chini Lake was relatively slow, ranging from 0.001 to 1.31 m3 /s or an average of 0.21 m3 /s. According to the INWQS (Interim National Water Quality Standards, Malaysia) classification, the temperature was within the normal ranges; conductivity, total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate, sulphate and total dissolved solids (TDS) were categorized under class I, while turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen and phosphate came under class II and pH under class III. Furthermore water quality in Chini Lake varied temporally and spatially and the most affected parameters were pH, TSS, turbidity, DO, ammoniacal nitrogen, phosphate and conductivity. Based on the Malaysian Water Quality Index (WQI), the water in the Chini Lake was classified under class II, meaning it is suitable for recreational activities and safe for body contact. Key words: Feeder River Hydrological Characteristics Water Quality Parameters Water Quality Index (WQI) Chini Lake INTRODUCTION are interactive components of watersheds and physical and chemical conditions of these ecosystems reflect the Lake water is an essential renewable resource for land use patterns and physical characteristics of the mankind and the environment and it is important for civil, landscapes in which they are embedded [5]. industrial and recreational purposes. Sustainable use of Chini is the second largest natural lake in Peninsular water resources requires the coupling of surface water Malaysia, located in the state of Pahang. As a natural assessment and monitoring programs with decision wetland ecosystem, the presence of Chini Lake (“Tasik making and management tools [1]. The quality of water is Chini” as referred by local people) plays an important role identified in terms of its physical, chemical and biological in reducing the frequency, level and velocity of floods parameters [2]. Water quality in an aquatic ecosystem is and riverbank erosion. Other significant benefits include determined by physical, chemical and biological factors. being a fish source for the local community, a basic According to Udo [3], the quality of water used in pond facility for livelihood and a medium for transportation is affected by the chemical properties of soils on which (boating). It also helps to recharge groundwater aquifers its run. Due to poor maintenance of supply lines and by retaining water and allowing it to permeate into the improper drainage system, the water quality is greatly ground slowly. Tasik Chini and its environment has affected negatively [4]. Streams, lakes and inland wetlands undergone devastating changes since 1984 or earlier Corresponding Author: Dr. B.S. Ismail, School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +60389214183, Fax: +60389252699. 737 Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (6): 737-749, 2012 Fig. 1: Location of the study area and the sampling stations brought about by development in surrounding areas meanders for 4.8 km before it reaches the Pahang River [7]. through mining, oil palm plantation and urbanization [6]. The Pahang River (the longest River in Peninsular In recent years, the hinterland of the Chini Lake has Malaysia) is very much affected by the intertidal monsoon experienced major development in agriculture and other seasons. The strong river currents in the Pahang River human activities such as the building of infrastructure surge into the Chini Lake through the Chini River during for the National Service Centre (which is situated close to the monsoon seasons and bring in high loads of Chini Lake riparian zone) and re-activation of an iron mine. suspended solids as well as other contaminants such as Large areas of forests which were converted to oil palm ammoniacal and nitrate nitrogen. plantations and logging activities have resulted in the A barrage was constructed (Fig. 1) downstream of the loss of forest area and land degradation. Agricultural Chini River in 1995 to sustain the lake water at a certain activities are believed to release pollutants such as level for touristic purposes and socio-economic nitrates and phosphates into the Chini Lake. Soil erosion development. The water level of the Chini Lake caused by the conversion of forest into agricultural land consequently rose and become stagnant; this has and logging activities are believed to be some of the main changed the ecosystem of the Chini Lake from semi-lotic contributors to the increased concentration of suspended to lentic. The adverse effects due to these changes solids in the feeder rivers and consequently in the lake. include damage to the plant communities and aquatic Chini Lake is drained by the Chini River, which ecosystems as well as increased sedimentation rates in 738 Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (6): 737-749, 2012 the Chini Lake. The wetland functions provided by the an icebox and transported to the laboratory for analysis swamp forest of Chini Lake such as water purification and on the same day. The specific flow of the Feeder Rivers pollution retention have been lost and this could affect was obtained by measuring the flow speed of the seven the water quality of the lake [8]. The construction of a Feeder Rivers around Chini Lake. Total rainfall during the National Service Centre for national service training in the study period was obtained from the nearby weather Chini Lake Catchment area in 2004 has also contributed station at Chini Dua, while the rainfall data prior to 2006 to increased nutrient and organic loading into the lake. was obtained from the Meteorological Department at A study of water quality trends in 1992, 1993 and 1998 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. In situ parameters: showed deterioration in some physical aspects of water The physico-chemical parameters of the lake water were quality such as temperature (increased by about 2°C) [9]. measured (in triplicate) at each sampling station. These The situation is indeed critical and there is a need for a were temperature, DO, conductivity, pH, clarity and detailed and comprehensive study in order to understand turbidity. Stream flow speed was measured using a Flow the hydrology and assess the characteristics of the water Meter (model FP101) and the Rangefinder (model Bushnell quality in the lake for sustainable management. The aim of 20-0001) was used to measure the distance between the this study is to assess the hydrology and determine the river banks (river width). changes of water quality characteristics in Chini Lake using various physico-chemical parameters. Laboratory Analysis: All the samples collected from the field were kept in a refrigerator at a temperature below 4°C MATERIALS AND METHODS in order to minimize activities and metabolism of organisms in the water. The BOD, COD, TSS, TDS, Study Area: The Chini Lake is located in the south ammoniacal-N, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate were eastern region of the state of Pahang, Malaysia (Fig. 1). measured in accordance with standard procedures It is located approximately 100 km from Kuantan, the [10, 11]. The COD, ammoniacal-N, nitrate, phosphate and capital of Pahang. The lake system lies between 3°22´30" sulphate were determined using a spectrophotometer to 3°28´00" N and 102°52´40" to 102°58´10" E and Model HACH DR 2500 at specified wavelengths [10, 11]. comprises 12 open water bodies that called “laut” by the Six water quality parameters i.e. DO, BOD, COD, TSS, local people and linked to the Pahang River by the Chini ammoniacal-N and pH were used in the calculation of the River. A few communities of the indigenous Jakun tribe DOE-Water Quality Index (DOE-WQI) as described by live around the lake. The Chini Lake is the second Norhayati et al. [12] and Norhayati [13]. The index was largest natural fresh-water lake in Malaysia covering established based on the results of an opinion-poll of a 202 hectares of open water and 700 ha of Riparian, panel of experts who determined the choice of parameters Peat, Mountain and Lowland Dipterocarp forests [8]. and weight ages assigned to each chosen water quality The Chini Lake is surrounded by variously vegetated parameter [14]. low hills and undulating land which constitute the The index was based on the DOE opinion poll WQI watershed for the region. There are three hilly areas and computed from the equation: surrounding the lake: (1) Bt. Ketaya (209 m) located southeast; (2) Bt. Tebakang (210 m) at the north and (3) WQI = 0.22(SIDO) + 0.19(SIBOD) + 0.16(SICOD)+ Bt. Chini (641 m) located southwest. The study area has 0.15(SIAN) + 0.16(SISS) + 0.12(SIpH) a humid tropical climate with two monsoon seasons, characterized by the following bimodal pattern: Where SI refers to the sub index function for each of the southwest and northeast monsoons bringing rainfall given parameters and the coefficients and the weighting which varies from 1488 to 3071 mm annually.