Water quality of sungai Tuaran, Sabah

The purpose of this study is to determine the water quality of Sungai Tuaran, Sabah and its tributaries based on the parameters pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), suspended solids (SS), total dissolved solids (IDS), concentration of nitrate (N03), and concentration of sulphate (SOl-) via both in-situ and laboratory analyses. The results obtained are compared with Interim National Water Quality Standards (INWQS) and Malaysia Drinking Water Standards where relevant. The average pH value is 7.65 ± 3.91, while the EC averages 60.10 ± 2.83 J1S cm-t. Mean ofTDS fall between the range of 0.00 mg L-t to 166.7 ± 30.6 mg L-t and mean of SS is from 26.7 ± 11.5 mg L-t to 1666.7 ± 41.6 mg L-t. Nitrate concentration averages between 1.47 ± 0.06 mg L""t and 4.00 ± 0.20 mg L-t. The mean concentration for sulphate is from 2.0 ± 0.0 mg L-t to 14.0 ± 0.0 mg L-t. Based on INWQS, the overall water quality is acceptable; however the SS values indicated pollution in certain parts of the river. For drinking water quality, the concentration of IDS, NO)-, and sol are all below the Malaysia Drinking Water Standards benchmark levels. Related parameters are also statistically correlated to determine the significance of one variable towards another. Correlation of EC-IDS, ECNO) - concentration, and Ec-sol- concentration show positive and strong significance. Through observation and inferring to the obtained results, anthropogenic activities do playa major role in affecting river water quality