The effect of amalgamation process to the community water wells: A case study in Pelangan Village, Sekotong, West Lombok

Abstract

One of the artisanal mining locations in West Nusa Tenggara Province is Pelangan Village, Sekotong Sub-district, West Lombok District. There are two main activities in the artisanal mine site, namely mining operations and material processing, that commonly use logs and mercury (Hg). This study aims to determine the effect of differences in log spacing from mercury content in well water at Pelangan Village, Sekotong Sub-district. This study uses the Cross-Sectional research method to obtain an overview of mercury levels in the Pelangan Village of Sekotong Sub-district based on distance and to determine the differences in variables using Chi-Square statistical test. The results showed that 46 water wells had mercury levels less than 0.001 mg/l and 8 water wells had mercury levels more than 0.001 mg/l. From the results of chi-square analysis, the Pearson Chi-Square value was 6.541 with df = 1 and a significant value less than 0.05. The Chi-Square value concluded that there is an effect between the distance of the log and the mercury content of the community water well. To avoid the mercury pollution, three strategies should be applied including distance of water well from the pollution source should bigger than 95 meters, the best distance, and replacing mercury with something that more environmentally friendly.