Integrated modelling of land use and climate change impact on water Quality In Cameron Highland area, Pahang, Malaysia

Islam, Mir Sujaul (2017) Integrated modelling of land use and climate change impact on water Quality In Cameron Highland area, Pahang, Malaysia. , [Research Report] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The research investigates the integrated assessment of landuse changes on water quality of Bertam River Catchment, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. To accomplish the study, seasonal water sampling program was conducted from January 2014 to February 2015 to collect samples from selected 12 stations. A number of 15 (fifteen) physico-chemical parameters were analyzed to evaluate their spatio-temporal variability. Box and whisker plot of measured values of water quality parameters were used to interpret level and trend of the variations. Non-parametric statistical analysis as well as correlation matrix was performed to investigate the temporal and spatial variations of water quality. The water quality status and classes were also identified using the results of Water Quality Index (WQI) values. The land usage activity and changes in landuse pattern within the Catchment was analyzed and calculated over time (1984-2010). Georefencing, digitization, change detection and slope analysis techniques were applied to analyze the changing status and trends of these land usages using GIS approach. For water quality, non-parametric statistical analysis showed significant temporal and spatial differences (p<0.05) in most of the parameters across the Catchment. Parameters except DO and COD displayed higher values in rainy season. The higher concentration of total suspended solids was caused due to massive soil erosion and sedimentation. Seasonal variations in contaminant concentrations are largely affected by precipitation and anthropogenic influences. Untreated domestic wastewater discharge as well as agricultural runoff significantly influenced the water quality. WQI values indicated clean to polluted water quality status of the Rivers within the Catchment area. The analytical results of landuse changes revealed that an increasing trend of positive change for market gardening followed by floriculture and urban. The substantial expansion of market gardening (16.37 km2) and urban area (4.15 km2) has taken place during the study period resulting in significant decrease in forest area (22.85 km2). A major modification of floriculture land type (8.04 km2) from market gardening was also observed in the study area. Slope analysis showed that more than 40% area within catchment has slopes in between 100-300. A noticeable rate of agricultural activities developed along these slope ranges with replacing forest land type over time. Land use changes in the catchment area were characterized by expansion of the land use types with higher development pressure (agricultural activities and urban) and reduction of some land use types with higher environmental value (forest and scrubland).All these changes were directly related to human impact and driven by socio-economic activities aided by favorable climatic condition. Rapid changes in agricultural activities (market gardening, floriculture) and urban expansion along with terrain features and poor agricultural practices resulted in a wide range of environmental impacts, including land and water quality degradation in the catchment area. The analytical results provided a basis for protection of river environments and ecological restoration in mountainous Bertam Catchment. Moreover, sustainable landuse planning and management is urgent to handle the equilibrium between environmental conservation with land use development and utilization.

Item Type: Research Report
Additional Information: RESEARCH VOTE NO: RDU140366
Uncontrolled Keywords: Water quality; physico-chemical parameters; climate change; Cameron Highland
Subjects: T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Depositing User: En. Mohd Ariffin Abdul Aziz
Date Deposited: 28 Feb 2023 06:32
Last Modified: 28 Feb 2023 06:32
URI: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/36421
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