Spatial and temporal risk quotient based river assessment for water resources management

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Resource Management
• Pollution Control

Background:

• Malaysian rivers, vital for water supply and livelihoods, face degradation from urban development and pollution.
• The Klang River requires significant remediation to restore its water quality for various uses.
• Identifying pollution sources is crucial for effective river rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a temporal and spatial risk quotient (RQ) analysis for assessing Klang River tributaries.
• To determine the current water quality status at thirty strategic locations within the Klang River catchment.
• To expand ammonia pollution analysis beyond river health limits to include water intake and recreational feasibility.

Main Methods:

• Utilized existing datasets for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Ammonia (NH3).
• Employed a Risk Matrix Approach (RMA) to assess temporal river health based on RQ frequency and hazard impacts.
• Mapped pollution hazard levels at each location using Geographic Information System (GIS).

Main Results:

• Developed a risk hazard mapping tool to assess water quality parameters at thirty strategic locations.
• Evaluated temporal river health using the Risk Matrix Approach (RMA).
• Identified pollution levels and mapped hazard impacts across the Klang River catchment.

Conclusions:

• The developed risk hazard mapping is a valuable tool for decision-making in river restoration.
• This approach facilitates cost-effective identification of pollution hotspots for targeted remediation efforts.
• The study provides a robust framework for assessing and managing river water quality in urban catchments.