Sains Malaysiana 39(3)(2010):
337–345
Assessment
of Selected Chemical and Microbial Parameters in
Groundwater
of Pulau Tiga, Sabah, Malaysia
(Taksiran Parameter
Kimia dan Mikrob Terpilih Bagi Air Bawah Tanah di Pulau Tiga, Sabah, Malaysia)
Chin Yik Lin*1,
Mohd. Harun Abdullah1, Baba Musta1, Ahmad Zaharin Aris2
& Sarva Mangala
Praveena2
1School of Science and Technology
Universiti Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
2Faculty of Environmental Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Diserahkan:
25 Jun 2009 / Diterima: 19 Oktober 2009
ABSTRACT
Ambient
groundwater samples collected from five wells in Pulau Tiga have been studied
for selected physico-chemical and biological parameters to understand general
water quality of the island. This preliminary study on groundwater of Pulau
Tiga was undertaken to provide guidance and baseline data for future
references. Two field works were undertaken in August and November 2007 to
collect the groundwater samples. Groundwater samples were collected from five
representatives wells at the low lying area of Pulau Tiga in order to study the in-situ parameters such as DO (dissolved oxygen), EC (electrical conductivity), TDS
(total dissolved solids), pH, salinity and temperature. In general, groundwater
in Pulau Tiga is moderate in conductivity (330 μS/cm – 1005 μS/cm),
and serves as a vital freshwater source to both tourists and local inhabitants.
However, bacteriological analysis showed that the groundwater quality was poor,
with fecal coliform counts exceeding the WHO permissible limits for drinking
water. Through this study, human factor was to be blame for the fecal
contamination coliform where the polluted ground water might be originated from
sanitation facilities located too close to the wells. The occurrence of total
and fecal coliform bacteria in counts suggests poor sanitary handling and warns
of the potential presence of disease-causing organisms.
Keywords:
E. coli; groundwater; Pulau Tiga; water quality
ABSTRAK
Sampel
air bawah tanah telah diambil dari lima buah perigi di Pulau Tiga bagi mengkaji
parameter fizikokimia serta biologi terpilih untuk memahami kualiti air secara
umum di pulau tersebut. Penyelidikan perintis air bawah tanah di Pulau Tiga
telah dijalankan untuk menyediakan satu garis panduan serta data asas untuk
rujukan masa depan. Dua kerja persampelan telah diadakan pada Ogos dan
November 2007 bagi mengambil sampel air bawah tanah. Sampel-sampel air bawah
tanah telah diambil dari lima buah perigi di Pulau Tiga untuk memahami
parameter in-situ air tanah seperti DO (oksigen terlarut),
EC (kekonduksian elektrik), TDS (jumlah pepejal terlarut), pH, kemasinan dan
suhu. Secara umum, air tanah di Pulau Tiga adalah sederhana daripada segi
kekonduksiannya (330 μS/cm – 1005 μS/cm), dan ia berfungsi sebagai
sumber air tawar yang utama bagi menampung keperluan pelancong dan penduduk
tempatan. Walau bagaimanapun, analisis bakteriologi menunjukkan kualiti air
bawah tanah yang dicemari dengan jumlah koliform najis yang melebihi piawai WHO
untuk kegunaan air minuman. Melalui kajian ini, faktor manusia merupakan
pengaruh utama bagi pencemaran najis di mana air bawah tanah yang tercemar
dipercaya berasal daripada kemudahan sanitasi yang terletak berhampiran dengan
perigi. Kehadiran jumlah koliform dan koliform najis dalam kiraan menggambarkan
pengendalian sanitasi yang lemah dan pada masa yang sama memberi kesedaran
tentang potensi kewujudan organisma yang boleh menyebabkan penyakit.
Kata
kunci : Air bawah tanah; E. coli; kualiti air; Pulau Tiga
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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat;
email: cy_lin_ars@hotmail.com
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