River sedimentation based on landuse type

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the sedimentation of rivers which can reduce the water quality and river storage in Perlis. As the land use can get changing and effecting by the agricultural activity, it will affect to the rivers in increasing the sedimentation problems. The objectives of this study are to determine the sediment concentration that contributed from Perlis River, Tambun Tulang River, and Serai River, and to determine the type of landuse that contributed to high sedimentation to the downstream of the catchment. This project is focus on two parameters to be monitored namely Total Suspended Solid (TSS), and water discharge. This study was established at Perlis River as commercial area, Tambun Tulang River as paddy field, and Serai River as rubber plantation, which were located at Kangar, Arau, and Chuping, respectively. The samplings were taken for eight week, by collecting the water sample to have TSS analysis, measuring the river velocity and river depth. The results concluded that Perlis River and Tambun Tulang River had higher reading in TSS concentration which is 50 mg/L. The high of TSS concentration due to the flow velocity was slow and hence it allowed more suspended solids to settle down into the bottom of river. While the Perlis River contributes to high sedimentation to the downstream when its result of sediment load was the highest compared to other river, which is 35,638.4 t/yr. The Serai River had the least sediment load since the area is shallowest, and had less water discharge from it. The high sediment load in rivers can cause adverse effects to the environment and humans, such as low birth weight, thyroid disease, immune system disorders, and aquatic species are decreasing.