- Authors: Sigit Heru Murti
- From: Lecturer at The Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada
Abstract:
The river is part of the surface water that is vulnerable contaminated by human activities such as mining activities. One of the mining activities that contribute to river water pollution is gold mining. The Topo River is a river that located in Dongin Village which became the recipient water body for illegal gold mining activities. The aims of this study is to determine the impact of illegal gold mining to the waters of the Topo River in efforts to control pollution rate and to prevent the occurrence of potential water quality degradation. This research used survey method. Identification of water quality is done by testing several water pollution parameters compared with those required by Government Act No. 82/2001 on Water Quality Management and Water pollution Control, which includes physics parameters (temperature and TDS); and chemical parameter (pH). The Determination of sampling location is done by purposive sampling that represents the upstream, midstream and downstream Topo River which is divided into six points. According to results from several parameters, it is found that the activity of illegal gold mining in Dongin Village has the potential to contaminate the water of Topo River. Water quality condition from upstream to downstream showed a degradation as proven by pH parameter below the quality thresholds. The pH value ranges from 4-6, where the lowest pH value is 4 at point 6 which is the location of the mine. The highest pH value is 6 at point 1 which is the upstream of the river. TDS values range from 400-650 mg / L, whereas the lowest TDS is in point 6 and the highest TDS at points 4 and 5. Based on the quality standard, all samples are still below the threshold. Temperatures at each point are still within the normal range of river water between 25.7 – 28.4 C. Illegal gold mining activities potentially pollute the waters of the Topo River, therefore more research is needed with more pollutant parameters so that the pollution index and the water quality status can be determined.
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