Analisis Status Pencemaran Perairan Estuari Mangrove Desa Pangkalan Siata Kecamatan Pangkalan Susu Kabupaten Langkat Sumatera Utara

Abstract

Water pollution is the introduction of living organisms, substances, energy, or other components into water through human activities, exceeding the established wastewater quality standards. Wastewater is the residual liquid from business activities or processes. Various activities along the coastline and the perspective of some coastal communities, who view the sea as a dumping ground, have contributed to the entry of excessive organic and inorganic substances into water bodies. This has a detrimental impact on marine waters and causes a decline in water quality in terms of physical, chemical, and biological factors. The aim of this study is to assess the characteristics of the waters of Pangkalan Siata Village and the pollution status of these waters, where the area experiences relatively high activity, including the use of the waterway as access for ships, floating net cages, and the presence of industries such as the palm oil mill (PKS) and PT. Pertamina. Based on the water quality analysis in the mangrove waters of Pangkalan Siata Village, Pangkalan Susu Subdistrict, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, the physical parameters showed a temperature range of 29.4°C to 32.7°C, clarity of 0.36m to 1.07m, turbidity of 0.06 NTU to 33.62 NTU, and current speed from 0.1 m/s to 6.0 m/s. The chemical parameters included pH from 6 to 7.2, DO from 4.6 mg/l to 8.8 mg/l, COD from 12.3 mg/l to 54.3 mg/l, BOD from 3.7 mg/l to 16.5 mg/l, nitrate from 0.9 mg/l to 4.5 mg/l, phosphate from 0.4 mg/l to 0.9 mg/l, and salinity from 5 ppt to 20 ppt. The biological parameters indicated the presence of fecal coliform with a range of <1.8 MPN/100ml to 92.0 MPN/100ml. Based on the pollution index and NSF/WQI methods, the water quality status was classified as moderately polluted, indicating that the water quality is compromised but still supports aquatic life, although further attention is needed to mitigate the negative effects of pollution.