Developing an integrated watershed management model through water and soil quality assessment and community engagement in the chini lake area / Youssif Hussin Abdusalam Bolomi

Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology

Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang – 2024

Includes bibliographical references

The objective of this research was to evaluate the quality of the surface water and soil in the Chini Lake watershed, including areas of agriculture and mining, and to develop an integrated model for sustainable management of the region involving local participants. To achieve this, samples of water were collected from ten preselected sampling stations and analyzed between June 2017 and April 2018. Similarly, soil samples were collected twice from 10 stations during the dry and wet seasons. Total of 24 water quality parameters included 10 heavy metals and soil properties, including ten heavy metals, were examined using standard methods. Data analysis was performed using statistical software (SPSS 22.0). Based on the WQI, all 24 water quality parameters and ten heavy metals were classified under Class II, which included temperature, (EC), TSS, TSS, DO, pH, BOD, COD, TP and AN were classified under Class II. Based on the analysis that has been made, station at Jemberau and Chini River are classified as Class III, which is according to index range of WQI, the station at Jemberau near the River and Chini River was classified as slightly polluted. Based on the collected data for different stations of water samples that has been analyzed, we can conclude that the main sources of water pollution have come from nearby mining activity. The heavy metal concentrations of ten parameters (Ba, As, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, and Ni) were analyzed using an ICP-MS test. The results showed that the heavy metal concentrations in the water samples were low and categorized as Class I, despite rising during the rainy season. The Water Quality Index (WQI) indicated that Chini Lake water was safe for recreational use and body contact, as it was classified as Class II. Mining activity was not the primary source of pollution in Chini Lake since heavy metal concentrations were low. Instead, agricultural and logging activities contributed to water contamination in the Chini watershed. The soil analysis revealed low organic matter, low pH, and low EC levels. The ecological risk indices, such as geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), and pollution load index (PLI), indicated that Cd and Zn concentrations were higher in the mining area. Moreover, PLI was higher in the mining zone than in other areas. Anthropogenic activities, including iron mining, agricultural, and industrial activities, were the primary sources of water contamination. Two types of surveys were conducted among three different groups. The Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAPs) survey was distributed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of local community members and agriculture employees towards agriculture pollution. The general survey was distributed to determine the willingness of authorities (DOE) to collaborate with local community members and agriculture employees. The study found that individuals who were older, had higher education levels, were long-term residents of the community, and had years of work experience were the most observant of changes in surface water and soil quality. The KAP survey scores indicated that local community members had good knowledge, attitude, and practices towards environmental issues, while agriculture employees had good knowledge and attitude but poor practices. All three groups expressed interest in participating in collaborative efforts to protect the Chini Lake watershed from contamination. The study's results suggest that an effective implementation of a socio-scientific integrated approach by the authorities can be an innovative solution for developing sustainable watershed management.