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Groundwater and Soil Vulnerability in the Langat Basin Malaysia

Article  in  European Journal of Scientific Research · January 2009

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European Journal of Scientific Research
ISSN 1450-216X Vol.27 No.4(2009), pp.628-635
© EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2009
http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr.htm

Groundwater and Soil Vulnerability in the

Langat Basin Malaysia

Ahmad Fariz Mohamed

Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
E-mail: fariz@ukm.my

Wan Zuhairi Wan Yaacob

School of Environment and Natural Resources Sciences
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Mohd Raihan Taha

Department of Civil & Structural Engineering
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Abdul Rahim Samsudin

School of Environment and Natural Resources Science
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Abstract

Movement of pollutants into soil and groundwater take place through disposals of
wastes, discharge of effluent from industries or releases of chemicals through agriculture
activities. Uncontrolled releases of pollutants will contaminate soil and groundwater which
creates environmental and human health problems. This lead to increasing vulnerability of
groundwater and soil which become one of the important environmental issue in Malaysia.
This study focus on vulnerability of soil and groundwater in relation to agriculture
activities and drinking water supply. This paper analyse types of soil and groundwater
sources of pollutants in the Langat Basin, Malaysia and determine the level of
vulnerability. A case study of landfill pollution was analysed to illustrate the impact and
vulnerability of soil and groundwater quality. Key management aspect of soil and
groundwater were discussed and a better approach in managing pollution source was
proposed.

Keywords: Groundwater, soil, vulnerability, pollutants

1. Introduction
Development process and human activity have affected environmental quality in many ways. Negative
impact to the environment and human health are resulted from man lack of awareness. For example
Simmonds (1862) states that wastes generated by industries, were disposed off to the environment
without proper monitoring and management become a public nuisance. These wastes which are
disposed into water or land, with or without proper safeguards will cause serious health impacts
Groundwater and Soil Vulnerability in the Langat Basin Malaysia 629

through surface and ground water, land and air pollution, which pose hazards to local people, live
around the disposal sites (World Bank, 1992). With technological development in manufacturing
industries, chemicals have become important substances for human development. One of the critical
uses of chemicals is to control agricultural pests. Although use of chemicals shows positive effect on
agriculture output, however it has shows detrimental impact to the environment and human health.
Rachel Carson (1962), has sparked environmental consciousness globally especially on the issues of
groundwater and soil contamination. She highlighted the problem of chemicals use in agricultural
activities which has affected the groundwater and soil quality as well as its habitat. Hence soil and
groundwater contamination affecting environment and human health has become critical
environmental issues. In late 19th centuries health officials from England and France have recognized
the importance of soil and groundwater contamination and its effect to human health (Colten and
Skinner, 1996). In the modern days, Love Canal tragedy in the City of Niagara, USA has become the
main reference of soil and groundwater contamination. The long term exposure of contamination has
revealed more than 248 types of chemicals in the Love Canal dump site, hence shows the critical
problem of such contamination (Fletcher, 2002).
Groundwater and soil pollution in Malaysia for the past has not been identified as key
environmental issue in Malaysia. This is true since not many cases of environmental and human health
incidents have been reported. However with increasing demand for agricultural and drinking water use,
groundwater and soil vulnerability has become an important environmental and human health issue.
This paper highlights and analysed groundwater potential and identify source of pollution for
groundwater and soil in the Langat Basin ecosystem (Figure 1). Example of groundwater and soil
vulnerability is discussed through case study of landfill contamination.

Figure 1: The Langat Basin, Malaysia

630 Ahmad Fariz Mohamed, Wan Zuhairi Wan Yaacob,
Mohd Raihan Taha and Abdul Rahim Samsudin

2. Methods
Groundwater and soil potential source of pollution were determine through secondary data analysis.
The same method also being use to determine groundwater supply potential. As for the case study, a
study conducted at Ampar Tenang, Langat Basin landfill involved drilling of seven boreholes within
the area. Three boreholes were installed within the active tipping area, one borehole at inactive cell and
the other three were drilled on top of the active waste tipping area (see Figure 2). All boreholes were
drilled up to the depth of 20 meters using rotary washing boring method (clean drilling technique).
Contaminated soil and groundwater samples were collected during the drilling. The site was also
investigated using geophysical technique of 2-D resistivity to delineate the movement of leachate into
the groundwater. The boreholes were then converted into monitoring well to monitor the quality of
groundwater. Management analysis was conducted using SWOT analysis (Houban et al, 1999) to
identify best management approach for groundwater and soil vulnerability.

Figure 2: Layout of Ampar Tenang open-tipping site showing the locations groundwater monitoring boreholes
and general trend of groundwater flow direction (Bahaa et al, 2008).

3. Soil and Groundwater Scenario in the Langat Basin

For the past three decades the Langat Basin ecosystem is experiencing rapid landuse change drive by
development process. Urbanization, industrialization and agriculture activities affect large area of land.
Nordin et.al. (2003) stated that the Langat Basin ecosystem is experiencing increasing pressure from
urbanization and industrialization. The development process has resulted to increasing vulnerability of
groundwater and soil quality in the Langat Basin ecosystem Demand for good quality of groundwater
and soil is increasing with growth of population and agricultural activity in the Langat Basin
ecosystem. This is more pressing for groundwater, since it was identified by the government as a
possible alternative water source. There are now factories have started shifting their industrial water
source from surface water to groundwater in the Langat Basin ecosystem.
Groundwater and Soil Vulnerability in the Langat Basin Malaysia 631

3.1. Groundwater Demand and Supply

The total rate of water extracted in the Langat Basin in 1999 from the ground was estimated at 25.07
million m3/year. Industrial activity utilized 12.13 million m3/year of groundwater followed by domestic
activity. Although the rates between industry and domestic did not show a significant difference, the
numbers of factory which used groundwater were smaller (15 wells) than domestic (56 wells). Table 1
shows usage of groundwater for each activity within each district in the Langat Basin. Data reviewed
show that the highest rate of water extracted from ground was in Kuala Langat district with an
estimated amount of 2,506.19 m3/hour (60,148.56 m3/day).This is followed by Hulu Langat and
Sepang districts (Figure 3).

Table 1: Usage of Groundwater in Langat Basin

Usage (Million m3/year)

District Total
Domestic Industry Observation Test Well Unknown
Hulu Langat 0.96 1.09 0 0 0.16 2.21
Kuala Langat 9.88 11.04 0.95 0.08 0 21.95
Sepang 0.91 0 0 0 0 0.91
Total 11.75 12.13 0.95 0.08 0.16 25.07
(Source: JICA and MGDM 2002)

Figure 3: Rate of Groundwater Usage in Each District within the Langat Basin.

25
Usage (million m3/

20

15
year)

10

0
Hulu Langat Kuala Langat Sepang

Ground Water Usage 2.21 21.95 0.91

(Source: JICA and MGDM 2002).

3.2. Source of Pollution to the Groundwater and Soil Quality

Agricultural and Industrial activities have been identified as the main pollution sources to groundwater
and soil in the Langat Basin ecosystem. These activities contributed towards generation of non-point
sources of pollutants. However the amount and types of pollutants produced were difficult to be
exactly determined.
Industrial development activities in the Langat Basin were rapid and continue to increase. There
are 30 industrial estates housing 337 factories located in the Langat Basin. Factories in the Langat
Basin were engaged in 22 categories of industrial production, ranging from the manufacturing of
agricultural end-products to high-tech products such as consumer electronics (Ahmad Fariz Mohamed
and Jamaluddin Jahi 2000). Electrical and electronic industries predominate followed by industries
manufacturing industrial and engineering products, furniture, textiles and fabrics, and building
materials and chemicals.
632 Ahmad Fariz Mohamed, Wan Zuhairi Wan Yaacob,
Mohd Raihan Taha and Abdul Rahim Samsudin

In 1995 agriculture activities in the Langat Basin utilised an area of about 1735.83 km2, which
is about 60% of total land area of the Langat Basin (Agriculture Department 1995). The main activity
for agriculture is dominated by oil palm plantation, followed by rubber, piggeries, poultry, aquaculture,
cattle and orchards. According to PORLA (2000) there are 94 palm oil estates and 8543 small holders
in the Basin. Agriculture activities have been known using various types of chemicals as pesticides and
fertilizers (Gurmit Singh et. al., 1999). There are many types of pesticides being used and mainly to
control weeds, insects, rats and other pests.
Nasiman and Mohd Nazan (1997) reported on the alluvial aquifer in the Langat Basin
Ecosystem and the threats on the water resource. Their report was very relevant to groundwater
resource as a whole. They stated that an alluvial aquifer of high potential yield for fresh groundwater
was discovered in the Langat Basin ecosystem. The aquifer was located in the coastal lowlands and in
the inland valley floor of major rivers. Groundwater from the alluvial aquifer is suitable for use as a
source of drinking water and for industrial uses. However, development in the Langat Basin is
threatening the quality of the groundwater. Tin mining, followed by sand mining from the alluvial
deposits, could cause reduction in the aquifer yield through introduction of slime and clay particles into
the aquifer. The quality of groundwater is also threatened by leachate from municipal landfills,
domestic wastewater and polluted storm water discharges into the mining pits or lakes.
The uses of mining lands and lakes as waste disposal grounds have introduced pollutants such
as waste organics and toxic chemicals into the aquifer. Recognizing the importance of existing
aquifers, it is recommended that proper guidelines and mitigation measures be adopted for mining pits
and lakes used for waste disposal in order to protect the groundwater. This may include: (i)
confinement and treatment of leachate, (ii) treatment of storm and other wastewaters to the level of
quality acceptable for groundwater recharge, (iii) formulation of regulations on groundwater recharge,
(iv) maintaining former mining lands as groundwater recharge areas, hence keeping them as “green
areas” without activities that may introduce pollutants, (v) diversions of storm water and other waters
through conduits or surface drains that run directly into rivers to avoid discharging the wastewaters
into lakes, (vi) regular monitoring of the lake water quality taking into consideration its biological and
chemical properties, and (vii) regular monitoring of groundwater quality and establishing pollution
migration patterns from point-sources and non-point sources in the aquifer.

4. Case Study: Impact of Landfill to Ground Water and Soil

The case study to determine the impact of pollution source to soil and groundwater was conducted at
landfill located in Ampar Tenang, Dengkil. Ampar Tenang Landfill site is located approximately 4km
to the south of Dengkil in Selangor, Malaysia. The site was once an active open tipping (9 years in
operation), and received about 100 tons per day of mainly domestic waste (Figure 2). The thickness of
the disposed waste ranges between 4.5 m and 9 m with an average value of 6.63 m. The site is
surrounded by oil palm plantation and situated at the low land area at the river bank, about 10m from
Labu River (i.e. important tributary and part of Langat River in the Langat Basin). Geologically, the
site is sited on top of the river alluvium, that consists mainly of silt (50-70%), clay (<25%) and sand
(<25%). The site is more clayey near the ground surface but siltier to sandy in deeper layers,
representing the shallow confined aquifer.
The permeability of river alluvium soil at this site is within 4.4 x 10-8 m/sec and 5.12 x 10-7
m/sec (the soils were tested via falling head permeability test). The site was firstly operated by the city
local council before it was transferred under the management of Alam Flora Sdn Bhd (a private
company that dominates the solid waste management in Malaysia). The site was then upgraded from
open dump to controlled dump site. But yet still, the Ampar Tenang landfill site does not have a proper
liner material except that it is naturally sited on top of thick river alluvium soil.
Groundwater and Soil Vulnerability in the Langat Basin Malaysia 633

4.1. Landfill Impact and Vulnerability of the Groundwater and Soil Quality
According to Bahaa (2005), the deterioration of groundwater quality due to the impact of disposed
waste at Ampar Tenang open tipping is indicated by a considerably high values of electrical
conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), nitrates (NO3-),
ammonical-N (NH3-N) and some heavy metals including iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd),
lead (Pb), and copper (Cu). These contaminants have migrated further downgradient of the site as
revealed by the results of groundwater analysis and MODFLOW computer programme. The
geophysical investigation conducted revealed that the resistivity value of the decomposed waste is
relatively low (<2.46 Ωm) compared to those of the uncontaminated soil outside the disposal site. The
electrical conductivity anomaly on the dumping site was related to leachate plumes which appear to
have seeped at depth as far as 20m below the surface (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Resistivity sections conducted on top of the wastes at Ampar Tenang (AT) landfill site (Abdul
Rahim et al 2006)

A number of contaminants including heavy metals readily penetrated through the formation and
eventually reached the groundwater. The short pathway needed for these contaminants before reaching
groundwater was enhanced by periodic water table fluctuations and infiltrating water during the rainy
season. The water table is also influenced by the fluctuation of the water level in Labu River. It has
been found that soils downstream of the site have been considerably contaminated by heavy metals
compared to upstream soil, which is due to the impact of leachate seepage through the underlying soils.
The acidic soil environment and the local groundwater flow directions have caused the mobility of
these metals, which in turn is reflected in the elevated concentration of some measured contaminants
including heavy metals (i.e. Fe, Pb and Cu) in the groundwater. Heavy metals present in the
contaminated soil can be also remobilized as a result of enhanced groundwater levels and infiltrating
rainwater; and it is therefore, recommended for their removal before construction of impermeable
barrier otherwise it will become a long-term contamination source for the underlying aquifer (Bahaa et
al 2008).
The study main findings have highlighted important findings. The site for Ampar Tenang
landfill was not located at the best possible area, which is very close to the Labu River, which is part of
main river tributaries of the Langat river basin. The surface water from Labu River was used for
drinking water and agricultural use. Although the site is located on top of thick natural river alluvium
soil, engineered liner materials, such as geomembrane, geotextiles, and compacted clay should be use.
The study revealed that there is a migration of leachate through this clay probably due to advection and
diffusion transport mechanisms. The soil at Ampar Tenang landfill was found to be incapable of
preventing the migration of contaminants including heavy metals, vertically and/or horizontally from
the source point. Hence this illustrate that the landfill has been polluting the groundwater and soil as
634 Ahmad Fariz Mohamed, Wan Zuhairi Wan Yaacob,
Mohd Raihan Taha and Abdul Rahim Samsudin

well as increasing its vulnerability not only to the soil and groundwater as it is also capable to pollute
the Labu River.

5. Management for Groundwater and Soil Contamination

The Environmental Quality Act 1974 was in forced since 1975, however there is no specific regulation
regarding to groundwater and soil contamination formulated in this Act. In 1984, the Malaysian
Department of Environment prepared a set of regulations dealing with hazardous wastes management.
These regulations, which specify requirement on the storage, transport, treatment and disposal of such
wastes, were enforced in 1989. This includes Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations,
1989, Regulation 2 P.U. (A) 294 of Environmental Quality (Designated Transporter) (Scheduled
Wastes), Regulation 2005, Environmental Quality (Prescribed Premises)(Scheduled Wastes Treatment
and Disposal Facilities) Regulations, 1989 and Environmental Quality (Prescribed
Premises)(Scheduled Wastes Treatment and Disposal Facilities) Order, 1989. however these regulation
under Environmental Quality Act 1974 focuses on treatment and disposals, which maintain use of land
as resources for handling hazardous wastes or substances.
At present, Malaysia does not have specific regulation on the management and remediation of
soil and groundwater contaminated sites. With regards to several contaminated land problems that have
been highlighted, for example the illegal dumping of aluminium dross at Felda Bukit Gatom in Labis
Johor occurred in 2006 (i.e. which has become a national issue and public outcry due to ammonia
vapour). Department of Environment (DOE) has currently undertaken their own extensive study to
develop the standard and this is followed by SIRIM Bhd, who currently drafting some standards on
remediation of contaminated land based on the standard from American Society for Testing Materials
(ASTM). Malaysia will have to keep up with the “pace” set by its ASEAN neighbours, such as
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam that have some form of regulations to control soil and groundwater
pollutions.
Legislation is one of the mechanisms which are important in managing groundwater and soil
contamination. However to ensure the legalistion mechanism effective, the is need to have effective
institutional structure which includes management system and human resources. The need for well
trained monitoring and enforcement officers for effective management of groundwater and soil
contamination is critical for effective enforcement. In addition the communities, industry and business
stakeholders also should be made aware of the importance in protecting the groundwater and soil
quality. Conducting awareness and education program is an important activity. As a start, Department
of Mineral and Geoscience has published a fact sheet about groundwater (JMGM, 2001). The fact
sheet provides key information about groundwater and the need to protect its soils which will ensure
good quality and sustainable use of the groundwater.
Other approach currently being implemented is through reduction of land use for wastes
disposal. This approach will take some time to achieve its targets and will require other activity such as
recovery of wastes as resources, application of cleaner technology to reduce waste generation, prudent
and environmental friendly approach use of chemicals for agricultural use.

6. Summary and Concluding Remarks

Groundwater and soil in the Langat Basin ecosystem is indeed an important resource which has yet to
be exploited on a bigger scale to meet the ever increasing demand for water and soil for various uses.
The sources of pollution are many and on the rise due to rapid development in the Langat Basin which
threatens groundwater and soil quality. It is essential to have efficient monitoring system in place and
management regime which ensures development activities will able to maintain good groundwater and
soil quality in the Langat Basin. To achieve good management practice for control of groundwater and
soil requires a good policy and strategy is needed. Through the existing National Environmental Policy
 Groundwater and Soil Vulnerability in the Langat Basin Malaysia 635

of Malaysia, establishing such strategy and action plan will materialize soon and will help to protect
the quality and health of groundwater and soil the Langat Basin ecosystem.

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