Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric Dam
Water quality in the downstream river of a hydroelectric dam may be affected by the structural design and operation. To date, little is known about the water quality downstream of the largest dam in Malaysia, the Bakun hydroelectric dam. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the wat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Chemistry |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7895234 |
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| _version_ | 1832567160510087168 |
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| author | Teck-Yee Ling Chen-Lin Soo Teresa Lee-Eng Heng Lee Nyanti Siong-Fong Sim Jongkar Grinang |
| author_facet | Teck-Yee Ling Chen-Lin Soo Teresa Lee-Eng Heng Lee Nyanti Siong-Fong Sim Jongkar Grinang |
| author_sort | Teck-Yee Ling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water quality in the downstream river of a hydroelectric dam may be affected by the structural design and operation. To date, little is known about the water quality downstream of the largest dam in Malaysia, the Bakun hydroelectric dam. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the water quality downstream of the dam when the spillway was closed and when it was opened. Results of the study indicate that the dam plays a significant role in regulating the water quality downstream of it. When the spillway was closed, pH and oxygen were lower in the river where DO was below 5 mg/L. When the spillway was opened, the water quality improved in terms of oxygen content (>8.0 mg/L), total sulphide (TS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) but deteriorated in terms of five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and total phosphorus (TP). Additionally, the intensity of the impacts, particularly BOD5, COD, and TAN, shows a declining trend as distance from the dam increases. This study shows that impacts on the water quality extend to a distance of 32 km from the dam particularly turbidity and DO and opening the spillway changes the water quality significantly. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3050f8bf7d12450ba7393abbcdee205d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-9063 2090-9071 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Chemistry |
| spelling | doaj-art-3050f8bf7d12450ba7393abbcdee205d2025-02-03T01:02:15ZengWileyJournal of Chemistry2090-90632090-90712016-01-01201610.1155/2016/78952347895234Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric DamTeck-Yee Ling0Chen-Lin Soo1Teresa Lee-Eng Heng2Lee Nyanti3Siong-Fong Sim4Jongkar Grinang5Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MalaysiaDepartment of Aquatic Science, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MalaysiaInstitute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MalaysiaWater quality in the downstream river of a hydroelectric dam may be affected by the structural design and operation. To date, little is known about the water quality downstream of the largest dam in Malaysia, the Bakun hydroelectric dam. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the water quality downstream of the dam when the spillway was closed and when it was opened. Results of the study indicate that the dam plays a significant role in regulating the water quality downstream of it. When the spillway was closed, pH and oxygen were lower in the river where DO was below 5 mg/L. When the spillway was opened, the water quality improved in terms of oxygen content (>8.0 mg/L), total sulphide (TS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) but deteriorated in terms of five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and total phosphorus (TP). Additionally, the intensity of the impacts, particularly BOD5, COD, and TAN, shows a declining trend as distance from the dam increases. This study shows that impacts on the water quality extend to a distance of 32 km from the dam particularly turbidity and DO and opening the spillway changes the water quality significantly.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7895234 |
| spellingShingle | Teck-Yee Ling Chen-Lin Soo Teresa Lee-Eng Heng Lee Nyanti Siong-Fong Sim Jongkar Grinang Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric Dam Journal of Chemistry |
| title | Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric Dam |
| title_full | Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric Dam |
| title_fullStr | Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric Dam |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric Dam |
| title_short | Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric Dam |
| title_sort | physicochemical characteristics of river water downstream of a large tropical hydroelectric dam |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7895234 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT teckyeeling physicochemicalcharacteristicsofriverwaterdownstreamofalargetropicalhydroelectricdam AT chenlinsoo physicochemicalcharacteristicsofriverwaterdownstreamofalargetropicalhydroelectricdam AT teresaleeengheng physicochemicalcharacteristicsofriverwaterdownstreamofalargetropicalhydroelectricdam AT leenyanti physicochemicalcharacteristicsofriverwaterdownstreamofalargetropicalhydroelectricdam AT siongfongsim physicochemicalcharacteristicsofriverwaterdownstreamofalargetropicalhydroelectricdam AT jongkargrinang physicochemicalcharacteristicsofriverwaterdownstreamofalargetropicalhydroelectricdam |