Impact of iron mining in Bukit Besi area,Temangan, Machang District, Kelantan on physico-chemical water quality

This study was conducted to determine the physico-chemical parameters of waste water of Iron Ore mining site in Bukit Besi area, Temangan, Kelantan. Three sampling point were chosen that were the point source, treatment pond and the most far artificial pond. The lenght between two points was about 500 meters. The samples were collected for three times in different day that were on 15/3/2012, 16/3/2012 and 4/4/2012. Besides that, there were about 54 waste water samples was took and the collected samples were kept in ice and acidified to pH 2 and below by using nitric acid and sulphuric acid. Two methods or measurement of sampling was used that were in-situ and ex-situ measurement. In-situ analysis was examined by using YSI 556 Multiparameter and turbidity meter. Meanwhile, ex-situ analysis was measured using Spectrophotometer Harch DR 2880 and DRB 200 Reactor. The result gain from the analysis was compared with two standards that were Water Quality Index and World Health Organization Drinking Water Standard 1993. By comparing with Water Quality Index, Point 1 or point source has the low or negative index in which it's indicated much polluted water. Meanwhile, the second and third point has the value of Water Quality Standard in between the 60-80, which means the waste water was slightly polluted. Meanwhile, the concentration of studied heavy metal that was iron, manganese and zinc in the waste water was low and comply with the World Health Organization Drinking Water Standard 1993. However, there some aspect that need to improve and action need to be takes as suggested in this thesis in order to maintain a healthy river ecosystem and reduce the hazardous waste discharge from this Iron Ore mining site.