Relationship between water quality variations and land use in the Batutegi Dam Watershed, Sekampung, Indonesia

Abstract

The Sekampung Hulu and Sangharus rivers were selected as target sites to study improved use and conservation of dam reservoir water because the region is an important source of fresh water, irrigation water for downstream agriculture and production of hydropower. The two rivers exhibited differences in average water quality. Most water quality parameters exhibited clear differences between the two rivers at each sampling event, with the relative differences not changing during the sampling period. Analysis of water quality based on land use percentage indicated that upland fields had a major impact on most water quality parameters. In addition, forest and plantation conditions had a major impact on the suspended solids concentrations. The results of the present study suggest that current management of these land use categories may not be adequate to prevent or even decrease erosion.