The Effect of land uses on physicochemical water quality at three rivers in Sungai Endau watershed, Kluang, Johor, Malaysia.

This study was conducted to determine physical and chemical water quality for three rivers
which flowed through different land uses. Water quality was surveyed from November 2008 to June
2010 at five identified stations which were located at three rivers in Sungai Endau watershed (Dengar,
Madek and Mengkibol river) Kluang, Johor. There were two types of data obtained from the river
water quality sampling exercise, i.e. in-situ and laboratory analyses data. A total of five water quality
parameters were measured namely pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature and turbidity by
using a multi parameters probe Model YSI 6920 with 650 MDS Display/Logger as well as single
parameter probe. While, for laboratory analysis, there were seven parameters measured; namely
Biochemical oxygen Demand (BOD), Suspended Solid (SS), Phosphate, Nitrate and Sulphate,
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Ammoniacal Nitrogen (AN). Based on the results, it was found
that Mengkibol river (urban river) recorded high conductivity, temperature, salinity, turbidity, COD,
BOD5, ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate, phosphate and total suspended solid, while Madek (logging) and
Dengar (oil palm plantation) stations including the reference (Hulu Dengar) and back-up reference
stations (Gunung Berlumut) recorded high DO concentrations and at the same time and there was no
distinct variation between stations for pH. The Water Quality Index (WQI) results for all the rivers
were under class I & II except Mengkibol river that was under class III when compared with the
Malaysian’s WQI guideline.
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