COMPARISON OF MICROBIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT BETWEEN THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND VISITORS WATER ACTIVITIES IN ROYAL BELUM STATE PARK

Abstract

The waters within the Royal Belum State Park are predominantly utilized for recreational activities and are the main source of water for indigenous tribes. Changes in population density, tourism and climate changes may impact water quality and the consequences to human and ecological health are of economic and social importance. An assessment of water quality in Temenggor Lake, Royal Belum State Park has been conducted at two sampling locations, namely visitor water activity areas (fishing, swimming, canoeing) and indigenous people water activity areas (dishes washing, laundry, open bathing) to determine and compare the microbiological and physicochemical parameters and to classify the safety of water usage based on the National Water Quality Standards classification for water activity use with body contact. Six locations were selected and analysed in-situ for temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH level and turbidity while total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, ammoniacal-nitrogen, total coliform, enterococci and Escherichia coli were analysed in the laboratory. Results indicated that all physicochemical parameters (temperature, turbidity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand) except pH and ammoniacal-nitrogen at the six samplings stations were within the acceptable range for water activity use. All stations were within class I to IIB for microbiological parameters in comparison to the National Water Quality Standards classification for Malaysia. This indicates that the waters were safe for water activity with body contact. Visitor water activity areas were safe and clean compared to indigenous people’s water activity areas and the differences were statistically significant. There is modest and visual evidence that the indigenous community may further reduce the water quality in their areas based on their daily sanitation practises of dishwashing and open defecation on land. Hence, the responsibility falls on the authorities to provide a good sewage management system and treated water at the indigenous people’s settlement to protect the lake water quality from deteriorating in the future and contributing to the adverse health effects of its users.