1.

0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of The Experiment

Generally, water plays a very important role to our environment and human life. As a
valuable natural resource, it consist marine, estuarine, freshwater (river and lakes) and
groundwater environments that stretch across coastal and inland areas.

Water has two types of measurement that are closely linked: quantity and quality.
Water quality is commonly referred as its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic
(appearance and smell) characteristics. The measurement of water condition related to the
requirement of one or more biotic species and any human need on purpose. It is most
frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which compliance can be assessed.
The most common standards used to assess water quality relate to health of ecosystems, safety
of human contact and drinking water.

Water is polluted cause of natural sources and non-natural sources. Natural

phenomena such as volcanoes, alga eblooms, storms, and earthquakes cause major changes in
water quality. Human activities such as agricultural activities, industrial facilities and housing
development are also major causes of water pollution. The effects of water pollution are not
only devastating to people but also to animals, fish, and birds. Polluted water is unsuitable for
drinking, recreation, agriculture, and industry. The reason are polluted water will cause
poisoning drinking water, poisoning food animals, unbalanced river and lake ecosystems that
can’t support full biological diversity any more.

Therefore,water quality assessment need to be carried out to ensure the quality of

water supply is conserved by measuring concentration of the constituents in quality of water.
The parameters for this assessment are physical, chemical and biological. Physical parameters
include temperature, odour, colour, taste turbidity, conductivity and total suspended solids
(TSS). While organic and nutrient demand includes pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD),
chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), total hardness (TH), phenols, oils
and grease, pesticides and nitrate.
1.2 Problem Statement

Apparently, the UTM lake seems to not be in a good condition. The cloudiness of water
indicating high turbidity and it also gives out unpleasant smell. This current condition seems
to be a hindrance towards the students’ activities.

1.3 Objectives of the Experiment

The main objective of this experiment is to investigate the present condition of water sample
from UTM lake. It is also to assess the supply water quality of the study area. By conducting
this experiment, it is aimed to know about health status related to intake of water sample of
the study area. Lastly, it is to determine the physical parameters such as the turbidity, BOD,
pH and conductivity, TSS and salinity.

1.4 Scope of Experiment

1.4.1. Location

The study will be conducted at Pollution Control Laboratory at Faculty of Chemical

Engineering, UTM.

1.4.2. Sample Source

The experimented will be carried out using UTM lake water sample.