ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY AND HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION (ALUMINUM, IRON, COPPER, CADMIUM, LEAD, AND ZINC) IN TERENGGANU, SETIU AND BESUT RIVERS, MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Nur Fazne Ibrahim Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Besut Campus, 22200 Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Nur Anis Hannani Muhamad Noh East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Hafizan Juahir Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Besut Campus, 22200 Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Mohd Khairul Amri Kamaruddin ᵇEast Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia ᶜFaculty of Applied Social Science, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Mamoun A Gharaibeh Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
  • Nadzifah Yaakub Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Besut Campus, 22200 Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/jurnalteknologi.v88.24719

Keywords:

Besut, Heavy metal, River, Setiu, Water quality

Abstract

Rivers in Malaysia, including the Terengganu, Setiu, and Besut Rivers, serve as vital water sources for domestic, agricultural and aquaculture use. However, their quality has deteriorated due to pollutants such as heavy metals, excessive nutrients, and organic waste, primarily from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, batik dye effluents and untreated sewage. Hence, this study assessed key indicators of water quality, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD) and (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), along with heavy metal content, during wet and dry seasons. Water quality was analysed using the APHA 2017 method, and heavy metal concentrations were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The Water Quality Index (WQI) classified the rivers as Class III, indicating the need for extensive water treatment. These rivers support economically significant fish species that are tolerant of moderate pollution and are suitable for livestock consumption. Heavy metal concentrations followed the hierarchy of Fe>Cu>Al>Zn>Cd>Pb in the Terengganu River, Fe>Cu>Al>Cd>Zn>Pb in Setiu River, and Al>Fe>Cu>Cd>Pb>Zn in Besut River. The highest recorded concentrations were Fe in the Terengganu and Setiu Rivers (0.92 and 1.30 ppm, respectively), while Al (0.44 ppm) was highest in the Besut River. These findings suggest that pollution sources originated from industrial discharge, batik manufacturing, agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and transportation activities near the rivers. This study indicated that Terengganu needs better wastewater treatment, stricter enforcement of industrial discharge regulations and more public awareness programs to protect its water quality. 

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Published

2026-06-16

Issue

Vol. 88 No. 4: July 2026

Section

Science and Engineering

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