Measurement the level of physicochemical parameter and heavy metals contents in the agricultural surface water / Siti Zulaikha Zulkifli

Only I% from 70% of water that found on the Earth can be accessed directly by
human for their consumption. However, modem agriculture practices may indirectly
be one of the main surface water pollution source. There are two major types of
sources of pollution that can be related to the agriculture practices which are point
source pollution and non-point source (NPS) pollution. The aims of this study were
to measure the level of physicochemical parameters and heavy metals contents in
agricultural surface water samples and to classified the quality of water by using
National Water Quality Standards (NWQS) and water quality index (WQI). Two
sites were chosen as sampling locations which are Lubuk Yu and Lubuk Ujid,
representing the agricultural surface water samples. For each site, the water samples
were collected at three sampling points which was at a distance of 25 m. All the
samples were measured for their in-situ and ex-situ physicochemical parameters and
were followed standard methods. However, heavy metals contents in water sample
were analysed using ICP-OES. The results for the level of physicochemical
parameter obtained in this study shows that the both surface water samples can be
classified in Class I where the water can be used for any purposes without major
water treatment, except for DO level. The Fe was the highest metal concentration
found in both water samples with 475 and 230 mg/L respectively. The concentration
of heavy metals measured in this study follow the order ofFe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Ni >
Cu > Cr = Cd for Lubuk Yu and Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb = Ni > Cu > Cr = Cd for Lubuk
Jek. The water quality index, WQI for the Lubuk Yu and Lubuk Jek water samples
were measured as 84 and 82 respectively and the water can be classified into Class
II. The results indicated the both surface waters were clean, suitable to be as a
recreation center for local and tourists, and also can be used as a water supply after
minor treatment.