Kandungan Nitrat Di Perairan Pasir Putih, Kecamatan Bungatan, Kabupaten Situbondo

The biological, chemical and physical compounds in waters will effect the life of the biota in it. Nitrate is the main form of nitrogen in natural waters and the major nutrient for alga growth. The aim of this research is determining the concentration of nitrate in Pasir Putih waters, so that the research data can be utilized as water quality monitoring in Pasir Putih waters, Bungatan district, Situbondo regency. The nitrate data in marine waters sampling was collected from three stations and through laboratory analysis methods. The marine waters samples ware putted in dark glass bottles and stored in coolbox for aboratory analysis, then the data results was compared with water quality standard based on theDecree of the State Minister of the Environment Number 51 of 2004. The average of the concentration of nitrate at station A is 6,8 mg/l; at station B is 10,2 mg/l; at station C is 5,6 mg/l. The average of nitrate concentration at sampling stationsis 7,53 mg/L shows that nitrate concentration level is exceed the water quality standard based on the Decree of the State Minister of the Environment Number 51 of 2004. This leads to an indication of anthropogenic pollution in the waters due to the existence of floating net cages near the research location at Pasir Putih waters Situbondo regency. It needs further researchs about the presence of floating net cages to the surrounding water quality.Komponen fisika, kimia dan biologi yang terkandung dalam suatu perairan akan mempengaruhi kehidupan biota di dalamnya. Nitrat merupakan bentuk utama nitrogen di perairan alami dan nutrien utama bagi pertumbuhan alga. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui kandungan nitrat yang terdapat di perairan Pasir Putih, sehingga data penelitian ini bisa dimanfaatkan untuk monitoring kualitas air di perairan Pasir Putih, Kecamatan Bungatan, Kabupaten Situbondo. Pengambilan data nitrat dalam sampel air laut dilakukan di tiga stasiun penelitian menggunakan metode analisa di laboratorium. Sampel air laut dimasukkan ke dalam botol gelap dan disimpan dalam coolbox untuk dianalisis di laboratorium, kemudian hasilnya dibandingkan dengan baku mutu air laut berdasarkan KEPMEN-LH No. 51 Tahun 2004. Rerata kadar nitrat di stasiun A yaitu 6,8 mg/L; di stasiun B yaitu 10,2 mg/L; di stasiun C yaitu 5,6 mg/L. Kandungan rerata nitrat di 3 stasiun penelitian sebesar 7,53 mg/L menunjukkan kadar nitrat yang melebihi baku mutu air laut berdasarkan KEPMEN-LH No. 51 Tahun 2004. Hal ini mengindikasikan terjadinya pencemaran antropogenik di perairan tersebut. Terdapat keramba jaring apung yang berada di dekat lokasi penelitian di perairan Pasir Putih Kabupaten Situbondo. Perlu penelitian lebih lanjut mengenai kaitan adanya keramba jaring apung dengan kualitas air di lokasi penelitian