ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Temporal Seasonal Variations and Source
Apportionment of Water Pollution in Melaka River
Basin using Multivariate Statistical Techniques
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1
Geography Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS),
Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
2
School of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Integrated Life Sciences, Quest International University,
No. 227, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Submission date: 2022-05-23
Final revision date: 2022-08-18
Acceptance date: 2022-08-24
Online publication date: 2022-12-05
Publication date: 2022-12-21
Corresponding author
Ang Kean Hua
Geography Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS),
Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(1):79-97
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ABSTRACT
This study aims to determine the spatial and temporal variation on water quality and to identify
the main pollutant sources in Melaka River basin. Based on nine monitored sampling stations, twenty
variables of water quality data were used in this study for year 2016. Multivariate statistical techniques
include Pearson correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA)
is applied to analyze the water quality data. The results indicate water quality in several stations were
over the limit of Malaysian water standards. PCA used to compute the pattern within the analysis of
water samples, and recognized on five factors in dry and wet season with the total of variation is 73.22%
and 76.58% in the river water data respectively. These suggest concentrations of pollutant sources are
associated with point source (municipal and domestic waste, sewage treatment plants, and industrial
effluents), non-point source (agriculture, livestock), and natural process (weathering of soil and rock).
CA explained rainfalls and other sources including surface runoff and wastewater discharges which
become main contamination indicator to relatively affect surface water quality through spatial and
seasonal variation. Overall, municipal wastes and industrial effluents required serious treatment due
to potential impact on water and potential hazard to consumer’s health. Therefore, this study suggests
anthropogenic activities in Melaka River basin required wise management.