CONCLUSION OF WEBINAR INDUSTRIAL TALK 2021

TOPIC: SEDIMENT TRANSPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

(INDUSTRIAL PERSPECTIVE)

The main function about NAHRIM are they conduct basic and applied water research
in areas such river basins, water resources, and climate change, coastal and oceanography,
hydrogeology and water quality and environment. Other than that, NAHRIM also provide
public and private sector clients with skills consulting services related to water and its
environment. Involved in water-related industries as a consultant. In addition, as a rational
referral centre for water and environmental research, as well as actively engaged in bilateral
and multilateral research on an international level.

During 2004, there were a huge flood at Cameron Highland, Pahang. About 5000
kilometres river length include three major rivers which is Bertam, Telom and Lemoi and
another small rivers. One factor of why flood can be happen is because at the major river,
there have no any proper solid waste disposal and the people just put the rubbish near the
river and when it is raining, the water will provide the waste into a river. Another issues are
encroachment of rivers reserves, plastic dumping and agricultural waste, uncontrolled
earthworks and frequent flash floods.

The impact of unusual flood on land clearing associated with mud flood in the
Kelantan river basin in 2014. The factor of the unusual flood in Kelantan are from land
clearing activities for such activities:

1. Oil palm and rubber plantations including replanting

2. Agriculture such as vegetables, arable crops and else
3. Land development for housing and municipalities
4. Mining and quarrying
5. Logging
6. River sand production

When the uncontrolled production of sand is rampant, it will cause a serious river erosion and
threatening the safety of hydraulic structures such as bridges, inlets and pump house. As well
as the quality of river will severely affected.
Implementation of NAHRIM pilot research project at Cameron Highlands

The function of NAHRIM Integrated Drainage System (NIDS), Sungai Merah is to

environmentally friendly drainage alternatives that trap coarse contaminants, treat soluble
contaminants and allow treated surface runoff to seep underground as storage for future use
in the event of a water resources crisis. The installation is at Sungai Habu and Sungai Merah.
Other than that is a river bank conservation by using NAHRIM GREEN MAT, marking the
20 metres Bertam river reserve using Intriguard.

Dredging System (NEDS)

The advantages of NEDS system is it is uses the pump method, where it can reduce
the rate of water turbidity due to the use of existing dredging methods, reducing the location
of sediment waste landfills, easy to operate because the NEDS system is automated, can be
mobilized from one place to another and operating costs can be reduced due to the reduction
of machinery and workers. This system can treat river water from Water Quality class 3 to
Water Quality class 2, last but not least, the NEDS system produces 4 downstream products
namely rock, sand, clay and clear water. The Water Quality Index can be separated by 4
category parameters which is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Ammoniacal Nitrogen
(NH3-N), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Water Quality Index (WQI).

NEDS System Process and Operation

There are divided by three sections which is isolation (Section 1), water treatment
(Section 2) and sedimentary treatment (Section 3). For isolation, the equipment that we can
use is Submersible Agitator Sand Pump that can suck the water river from it. Next, the water
will flow into the vibrating sieve to separate the aggregate and sand. Hence the retention tank
to reduce the turbidity rate of river water before it is discharged back into the river and will
be transfer to flocculation tank for forming clumps of precipitate. The clumps of precipitate
will go to the clarifier to isolate precipitate clots and clean water. The precipitate in the
clarifier tank will be collected in the sludge tank and pump it into a membrane filter press for
a few hours or day. The final result from the process will get three component which is
aggregate, sand and silt and collect into a jumbo bag.