The identification of ecological approach for waterway treatment at Sungai Penchala

Ecological approach performs in several ways to solve various environmental issues through human involvement in daily life. Through rapid development in big cities such as Kuala Lumpur, a massive river pollution occurs in the urban area resulting from anthropogenic activities carried out by the local community. This paper focuses on finding the potential ecological approach in waterway treatment. In order to achieve the aim, which is to determine and recommend the ecological approach for a pristine and healthy river in an urban environment, three objectives are identified. They are mainly to identify the activities conducted in the river area, to identify the condition and existing pollutant in the river and to examine the ecological approach to solve waterway issues and balance the river’s ecosystem. To achieve the aim of the study, a fieldwork was conducted along Sungai Penchala. The data obtained for this study are mainly from primary and secondary sources. The method employed for this research is a mixture of both qualitative and quantitative methods, which is also known as mixed methods. Observations, samplings and experiments have been conducted at three checkpoints along the river. The expected outcome in this study are the existing condition and the type of pollutant in the river. Sewage, manufacturing and industrial sectors are the sources of the metal pollution. Meanwhile, the sedimentation is caused by the urban development in Sungai Penchala. The results from the experiments conducted will indicate the level of Water Quality Index (WQI) to which the local community and authority need to be aware of. Through this study, the ecological approach as the solution for waterway treatment in the existing polluted river has been identified. It will certainly give benefits to both the environment and the local community in solving the issues and enhancing the existing condition of the river