Kualiti Air Tirisan: Kajian Kes di Ulu Yam dan Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor

Seepage Water Quality: A Case Study in Ulu Yam and Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor

Abstract

Air tirisan atau lebih dikenali sebagai air bukit terhasil apabila sesuatu bentuk muka bumi diteroka atau dipotong untuk tujuan pembangunan khususnya untuk pembinaan jalan raya atau lebuh raya baharu. Air tirisan ini mengalir dari celah rekahan batuan dan dianggap sebagai air semula jadi yang mengalir dari dalam tanah. Menjadi satu trend pada masa kini, orang awam mengambil air ini untuk tujuan minuman di samping keperluan lain. Air tersebut diminum terus tanpa dirawat terlebih dahulu. Artikel ini menganalisis tahap kualiti air tirisan di dua buah lokasi iaitu Ulu Yam dan Kuala Kubu Bharu yang terletak dalam daerah Hulu Selangor. Sampel kualiti air di lokasi ini telah diambil sebanyak tiga kali dan dianalisis secara insitu serta dalam makmal. Data kualiti tirisan ini dibandingkan dengan Piawai Interim Kualiti Air Kebangsaan (INQWS), Jabatan Alam Sekitar dan Standard Kebangsaan Kualiti Air Minuman (NSDWQ), Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia memandangkan majoriti orang awam mengambil air ini untuk tujuan minuman. Analisis kualiti air tirisan menunjukkan semua paramater kualiti air berada di bawah piawai yang ditetapkan khususnya bagi parameter DO, BOD, COD, NH₃-N dan pH. Walaupun kualiti air ini dianggap bersih, namun banyak isu yang perlu dipertimbangkan terutamanya daripada segi keselamatan dan tahap kesihatan orang awam yang mengambil air tirisan ini sebagai air minuman di samping pihak berkuasa perlu mengambil langkah perlu agar kawasan ini terus terpelihara.

Water seepage or also known as spring water produced when a landform is tapped or cut for development purposes, particularly for the construction of new roads or highways. This seepage water flowing from crevices and cracks, and considered as the natural water flow from the soil. It is become a trend now that people take this water for drinking purposes in addition to other uses. It is worth noting that normally seepage water is consumed directly without prior treatment. Hence, the purpose of this article is to analyse the quality of seepage water at two locations; Rawang and Kuala Kubu Bharu which is situated in the district of Hulu Selangor, Selangor. Water quality samples were taken at these two locations three times and analysed by using in situ approach and in the laboratory. Data of seepage water quality were then compared with Interim National Water Quality Standards (INQWS), Department of Environment and National Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ), Ministry of Health Malaysia since the majority of people used this water for drinking purposes. Analysis of seepage water quality showed all water quality parameters are well within the parameters set specifically for DO, BOD, COD, NH₃-N and pH. Although water quality is considered to be clean, many of the issues related to it need to be considered, particularly in terms of safety and health of the public who used the seepage water as source for drinking water as well as authorities should take the necessary measures so that the area is preserved.