Experimental Investigation of Water Quality and Inorganic Solids in Malaysian Urban Lake, Taman Tasik Medan Idaman

Abstract

Water scarcity is a persistent crisis during dry weather periods in the Gombak area, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Drinking and household water supply in Gombak is usually based on groundwater sources, with the lack of rainfall in key catchment areas during the dry period causing groundwater levels to decline, temporarily resulting in inability of the water pumping system to supply water. To address this issue, the present study investigated an alternative surface water supply source, namely Tasik Taman Idaman Lake. The study objective was to analyse the physicochemical characteristics of the lake water and determine the water standard for potability. A range of water quality parameters were measured in the present study, many being outside the desired levels, based on the standard “Class I” according to Malaysian EQA (Environmental Quality Act 2009). Of these parameters, only pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were within drinkable level, while the other parameters would have to undergo purification processes to attain the standard “Class I” status.