Influence of Community Behaviour on Water Quality in Sekanak River, Palembang

This study was carried out to analyze the effect of community behavior on water quality degradation in the Sekanak River. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in this study. The quantitative research data was gathered by conducting a questioner survey of 100 selected households living along the riverbank to identify community behaviour. It was also used to measure the water quality status using Pollution Index (PI) Method. The descriptive qualitative component included analyzing and elaborating the actual data of community behavior toward water quality assessment using triangulation data sources. The questionnaire results of the research revealed that the household’s knowledge and attitude on disposal management, sanitation and hygiene at the river bank were in high level. They are generally knowledgeable, having positive attitude and also practiced good personal hygiene, but twenty percent was still throw the garbage to the river. Furthermore, a total of seven sampling station has been identified along the river. The result showed that water quality status from the upstream to the downstream had slightly polluted. It is also evident that COD, BOD, NH3-N and Phosphate have exceeded the allowable threshold levels. This may attributed to the anthropogenic activities such as washing and throwing garbage which can be indicated from changing in the levels of COD and phosphate. However, water pollution inevitably occurs due to the unavailability of communal wastewater treatment plant, poor waste management and lack of public stimulus such as incentive and punishment that encourage participation of communities to conserve water resource. Besides the technical aspect, Dealing with complex socio-ecological issues are considerable importance components of a long-term environmental strategy. It is recommended that education, legislation and incentivization are necessary to spur and improve people awareness and potential role as “river guards”.