NREB Sarawak had started its River Water Quality Monitoring Program 'RWQMP' since 1999. The objective is to determine changes to water quality and detect sources of pollution. This is in line with the Government effort to regulate development activities, and to help achieve the State Government’s objective of maintaining water quality of rivers to at least Class IIB of the National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia (NWQSM). Today, a total of 248 monitoring stations located within 55 rivers, 3 lakes and 3 dams are being monitored under the RWQMP.
All samples were regularly monitored at predetermined stations to determine the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of the river water quality. The physical characteristics such as Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity, Conductivity and pH are measured using water quality in-situ equipment. Water samples are also analysed in laboratory for parameters, such as, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Total Coliform Count (TCC), Faecal Coliform Count (FCC) and Ammoniacal Nitrogen (Am-N).
The NREB monitoring and sampling procedures are in accordance with:
- The Guidelines for Handling of Environmental Samples by the Department of Chemistry Malaysia and;
- The Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater prepared and published jointly by American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation of the United States of America.
> National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia (NWQSM)
