Recreational water quality in Western Malaysia: A case study of Kuala Woh

The pollution level of recreational water in Western Malaysia has been investigated. Kuala Woh, a famous recreational spot in Perak was taken as a case study, which covered a time period from September 2003 to April 2004. The samples were analyzed for ammonia nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and heavy metals. The range of quality parameters of the samples were: temperature (20.49 °C - 58.19 °C), pH (7.10 - 8.26), conductivity (5.4 - 267.7 μS/ cm), turbidity (0.01- 1.01 NTU), total dissolved solid (89-149 mg/ L), COD (2.1-11.0 mg/ L), BOD (1.0- 4.3 mg/ L), ammonia nitrogen (0.03- 0.18 mg/ L) and sulphur (0.55- 56.98 mg/ L). Although the study was limited, the results were encouraging. Most of the quality parameters with the exception of the hot patches at the recreational site followed the levels adopted by the Interim National Water Quality Standards (INWQS) for Malaysia. On the basis of the INWQS values, the Kuala Woh recreational water can be categorized as Class HB and considered safe for recreational purposes. The high sulfur contents and elevated temperature at the hot patches, however, may be harmful in the case of a direct body contact.