A Physico-Chemical Assessment of the Bebar River, Pahang, Malaysia

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the hydrological properties and water quality of the Bebar River, Pahang. A total of 20 water samples were collected from 10 stations and sampling was conducted at two different dates, namely 19 and 22 April 2005. Parameters for the in-situ water quality study included pH, th nd temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and conductivity. Stream flow as well as depth and width of the river were measured on the sampling day. Physical characteristic parameters such as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and turbidity were considered in this study. Laboratory analyses were carried out according to the HACH and APHA methods. Results showed that the pH and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) value were very low, indicating the water was not potable. The daily flow of the Bebar River is 5.0x10 m ; therefore 53 it is considered a teeming river. Recently however, various activities such as illegal logging, agricultural production and unsustainable development have been taking place in the surrounding areas. The impact of these activities could result in environmental damage to the adjacent peat swamp by changing the hydrological characteristics, which in the long term could lead to deterioration in the quality of the peat swamp forest ecosystem.