Determination of water quality parameters for Klang river in Kuala Lumpur area / Amelia Abdul Malek

Environmental challenges faced by cities around the world are more complex now than at any other time in history. In many parts of the world, and notably in the Asia Pacific, rapid economic growth, decentralization, privatization, and related-socio cultural changes are leading to the emergence of a complex decision making environment. Water pollution is one of the problems that urban cities face in the process of the urbanization. Much of the pollution from the city is the result of the saturated population of Kuala Lumpur. Several years of data indicate the water quality parameters values for Klang River are poor. Sulaiman Bridge as the most polluted location for Klang River is due to the external loads from its major tributary, Gombak River which located just upstream of Sulaiman Bridge. These external loads have created a combined pollution loads, where pollution loads from Gombak River is combined with the existing pollution loads in the Klang River itself. Thus, the combined pollution loads worsen the water quality in Klang River. In addition, Sulaiman Bridge is also located in the middle of heavily urbanized Kuala Lumpur. Gombak River, is believed to contribute to the Klang River pollution as indicated by Baki (2005), but the pollution sources was not well defined and received little attention from the regulating authorities. The river flow effects on physical water quality also receive less attention because researchers are keener to look into the chemical water quality aspects. This is the reason this study were conducted.