LAND USE AND CATCHMENT SIZE/SCALE ON THE WATER QUALITY DETERIORATION OF KINTA RIVER, PERAK, MALAYSIA - Y., Azyana; N.A, Nik Norulaini; H., Nurul Jannah (Malaysian Journal of Science, 2012)
GIS and statistical analysis tools were used to examine the impact of catchment size and land use predictors that have an influence on the Kinta River water quality. The percentage of five land use predictor variables specifically forest land, agricultural land, developed areas, water bodies and mine areas were extracted from the entire catchment and buffer zones with radii ranging from 200 to 1000 m. Correlation and regression analysis were conducted on twelve water quality parameters at ten selected stations. Results suggest that, in most cases, the entire catchment landscape characteristics appear to have slightly greater influence on water quality rather than the specific sampling site of predetermined buffer radii. Developed land use becomes the best indicator to predict the degradation of water quality. While forested land, agricultural land, mining areas and water bodies do not contribute much to the river pollution. ABSTRAK GIS dan analisis alat statistik digunakan untuk mengkaji kesan saiz kawasan tadahan air dan penentu guna tanah yang mempunyai pengaruh yang lebih besar ke atas kemerosotan kualiti Sungai Kinta. Peratusan lima penentu guna tanah khususnya tanah hutan, tanah pertanian, tanah membangun/maju, badan air dan kawasan lombong telah diekstrak daripada tadahan keseluruhan dan zon penampan dengan jejari antara 200 -1000 m. Analisis korelasi dan regrasi telah dijalankan terhadap dua belas parameter kualiti air di sepuluh stesen terpilih. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa, dalam kebanyakan kes, landskap keseluruhan tadahan muncul untuk mempunyai pengaruh yang sedikit lebih besar ke atas kualiti air dan bukannya tapak persampelan tertentu jejari penampan yang telah ditetapkan. Kawasan guna tanah yang membangun/maju menjadi penunjuk terbaik untuk meramalkan kemerosotan kualiti air. Manakala tanah hutan, tanah pertanian, kawasan perlombongan dan kawasan-kawasan badan air tidak banyak menyumbang kepada pencemaran sungai. (Keywords: water quality, entire catchment, developed area, GIS)