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Pusat Sumber Alam Sekitar SPT has conducted its second session water health check programme on 27.6.2010 at three water spots in central Seberang Perai to monitor the water quality. The first session was carried out on 21.3.2010.

The highlights of the activity as well as the water testing results are as follows:-

Group Photo with ADUN Padang Lallang YB Michael Tan, MPSP Councillor Mr Oon Neow Aun, Encik Ghani from Jabatan Perpaduan & Integrasi Nasional SPT, Committee Chairman Mr Ng Tho Heng, committee members and participants.

Group 1 participants at Site 1 –End of Parit 4/ Iretex Factory, near Juru Auto City

General View of waterway at End of  Parit 4 behind  Iretex Factory, near Juru Auto City

Another View of waterway  End of  Parit 4 behind  Iretex Factory, near Juru Auto City

Close up View of the waterway as at 27.6.2010

Conducting water quality testing using the test kit on the sample water collected..

Result of River Water Quality Testing on 27-6-2010

Compared to our first site visit three months ago on 21.3.2010, there was general improvements on the physical conditions , the previously red earth service road leading to the site has now been laid with laterite, there was fewer trapped rubbish, bushes and wild vegetation near the banks of waterway has been cut.

Overall, the physical condition of the waterway and its water quality at Site 1 has improved slightly…

written by tan

Pusat Sumber Alam Sekitar SPT has conducted a water check programme on 21st March 2010 at Dewan Orangramai Taman Desa Damai to monitor the water quality of the waterway in central Seberang Perai. This is the first series of water health check activity conducted by Pusat Sumber Alam Sekitar SPT and supported by LA 21 of the local council MPSP.

Amongst those present include Padang Lallang State assemblyman YB Michael Tan, MPSP Councillor Mr Oon Neow Aun, Committee Chairman Mr Ng Tho Heng, Chief River Ranger Ch’ng Kheng Phong, committee members and many senior citizens..

Here are the highlights of the activity :-

Briefing by Chief River Ranger

Group photo of the participants with YB Padang Lallang, MPSP Councillor

View of Parit 4 at Jalan Nangka bridge, Desa Damai

AWAS !! Water health check in progress !! at Point1 – Parit 4 / Jalan Nangka Bridge

View of the end of Parit 4 nearby IRETEX factory / Juru Auty City area.

Another group conducting water health check at Point 2 at end of Parit 4

Shocking discovery – this is what we have collected, oil sludge, no fish/ invertebrates found. This section of waterway (PARIT 4) is severely polluted and has become a dead river !!

For those who misses this water health programme and wish to join us for next session of water monitoring activity scheduled in June 2010, please contact Mr Ng at 012 4078686 or email him at thng@streamyx.com for more details. All civic minded residents of Penang, senior citizens and students from nearby schools, members of NGOS are welcome to join. What’s more, it is FREE and fun learning outdoor programme !!

Result of River Water Quality Testing on 21-3-2010.

Location

a) Parit 4/ Jln Nangka b) Sg. Rambai/Lrng Tembikai 1 c) End of Parit 4/Burrow pit.

Chemical Water Quality -Variable

1.Dissolved Oxygen a) 2ppm b) 2ppm c)1ppm

2.Nitrates a)<5ppm b) 6ppm c) 3ppm

3.Phosphates a) 2ppm b) 6ppm c) 4ppm

4.Turbidity a) 40JTU b) 20JTU c) 40JTU

5.Temperature c) 28deg.C b) 28deg.C c) 30deg.C

6.pH a)7 b) 3 c) 8

Biological Water Quality Index a) 5 b) 0 c) 0

a)-Agak Kotor b)-Sangat Kotor c)-Sangat Kotor*

Note:

* i.Only black oil sludge; no living invertebrates found.

ii. Brownish discharge flowing from another channel into end of Parit 4.

iii. Surrounding canal bund becomes dumping ground and filthy smell; it is horrible.

iv.Garbage gathered right in front of the water gates; not cleared for quite some time.

written by tan \\ tags: water health check

The training programme was organised by The Environmental Resource Centre for the district of Centre Seberang Perai, supported by MPSP LA 21 and launched by YB Michael Tan, ADUN for Padang Lallang, Bukit Mertajam. The programme was conducted on 27 February 2010 at Dewan MPSP, Jalan Betek, Bukit Mertajam.

A speaker from DID Penang, Encik Rosli were invited to give a presentation and briefing to the participants. After the briefing session, participants were divided into three groups and proceed to the waterway behind the three storey shops at Pusat Komersial Sungai Rambai.

The water health check programme will be officially launched on 27 March 2010 to train individuals, concerned senior citizens and members of NGOs and even students who wish to learn more about how to monitor the water quality of our rivers and waterways in our areas and be a river ranger to keep a close watch on the water quality. The water quality monitoring session will be conducted on quarterly basis at  specified sites. For those who are keen to participate in the forthcoming training session, please contact the MPSP LA 21 secretariat Mr Chew Eng Seng 012 4779330.

Here are some snapshots of the training programme:-

Indoor briefing session

Participants at the water health check training programme

Field works – collecting water for testing

A close up view of the water condition

Conducting water testing…

Group Results of the water testings on chemical monitoring.

written by tan \\ tags: MPSP environment, water health check

EM Mud balls throwing session on 8th August 2009.

View of the ready mud balls

View of a tributary of Sungai Juru at the back of Juru Auto City.

Location map of Sungai Juru@ Auto City

The Juru Auto City has organised a EM Mud Ball-Making Contest on July 27.

Under the recent “A Million Apologies to Mother Earth” bio-remedial campaign launched by the Penang State Government, the state aimed to produce one million mudballs to clean up Penang’s rivers.

written by tan \\ tags: EM Mub balls at Sungai Juru

Program ini merupakan satu program kitar semula dianjurkan oleh MPSP LA 21, JKKK Perkampungan Juru dan Persatuan Penduduk Taman Duku pada 11hb April 2009. Sambutan amatlah digalakkan dan dianggarkan lebih 100 penduduk sekitar telah hadiri program untuk belajar membuat sabun dengan minyak masak terpakai. Program ini telah dilancarkan oleh Ahli Parlimen Batu Kawan YB Prof. Dr P. Ramasamy dan turut hadir bersama adalah ADUN Bukit Tengah YB Ong Chen Wen dan beberapa Ahli Majlis MPSP.

Bahan-bahan yang digunakan untuk membuat sabun :-

Minyak masak terpakai. – 1 litter

Air - 400 ml

Caustic soda - 120 gm

Campuran ini boleh dimasukkan ke dalam acuan dan perlu disimpang selama 3 hingga 4 minggu setelah menjadi beku dan boleh digunakan sebagai sabun.

Program sebegini seharusnya digalakkan dan disokong oleh masyarakat khasnya pengusaha restaurant dan kedai makan yang sememangnya banyak menggunakan minyak masak dalam penyediaan makanan.

Sisa-sisa minyak TIDAK seharusnya dituangkan ke dalam longkang atau parit yang akhirnya dialir masuk ke dalam sungai dan mencemari air sungai .

Program membuat sabun dilancarkan oleh Ahli Parlimen Batu Kawan YB Prof. Dr P. Ramasamy

Sessi penerangan membuat sabun

Bahan-bahan yang digunakan untuk membuat sabun

Sabun dibuat daripada minyak masak terpakai.

Update : More info on how to make eco-friendly soap using used cooking oil at The Star online on 27/4/2009 – Click here.

written by tan \\ tags: Add new tag, membuat sabun dengan minyak masak terpakai

Sekumpulan pelajar USM yang mengikuti khusus ilmu kemanusiaan tahun ke 3 telah mengadakan lawatan dan kajian ke Empangan Sungai Juru pada petang 23hb Jan 2009. Sempena lawatan tersebut, saya telah mencatitkan keadaan fizikal terbaru sekeliling Empangan Sungai Juru seperti berikut :-

a) Didapati tebing Sungai Juru di kawasan Rekreasi Sungai Juru kini dalam keadaan yang lebih kemas dan bersih dari sampah sarap.

b) Permukaan air sungai juga didapati ADA KEMAJUAN dan kerja pembersihan sampah permukaan di bahagian perangkap LOCK BOOM  telah dilakukan dengan lebih kerap lagi. Bau Busuk air sungai telah juga banyak berkurangan.

c) Pembinaan bangunan pejabat untuk JPS Daerah Seberang Perai masih diteruskan dan hampir siap.

Friends of Sungai Juru mengucapkan syabas kepada usaha dan tindakan yang telah dan sedang di ambil oleh JPS Pulau Pinang dan pihak kontraktor yang terlibat agar usaha ini dapat diteruskan dan dipertingkatkan lagi BAGI MENJADIKAN KAWASAN EMPANGAN SUNGAI JURU SEBAGAI SATU TEMPAT REKREASI DAN TEMPAT MEMANCING IKAN PADA HUJUNG MINGGU.

Sungai Juru Dam is in better shape and cleaner now compared to its polluted conditions 1-2 years ago.

Lawatan pelajar USM ke Sungai juru, Dari kini - Nor Ain Bt Hussein, Noor Aishah Bt Abu Bakar, Rohana Bt Hussin dan Fatimah Bt Hussain

Pandangan Empangan Sungai juru dari titi gantung, Rumah di bahagian belakang adalah Taman Titi Panjang

Pandangan Sungai Juru. Perangkap sampah nampak kemas dan tiada banyak sampah

Pembinaan pejabat JPS Daerah Seberang Perai hampir siap

Satu lagi gambir bangunan pejabat JPS Dearah Seberang Perai Tengah

written by tan \\ tags: Empangan Sungai Juru

YB Chow and his entourage comprising local council – MPSP, Penang DOE and DID officials inspected two areas ie 1) Sungai Juru Dam area near Taman Bukit Minyak dan 2) Sungai Juru – Tok Keramat area near Phase 4 Perai Industrial Area. Friends of Sungai Juru coordinator Tan Chai Liang briefed YB Chow, the officials and media reporters on the four major problems faced by this tidal river, ranging from illegal settlement on river reserves, encroachment on wetlands and mangrove areas along the river banks, serious water pollution from organic and industrial discharge and affluent, sedimentation and silting resulting from land clearing and developments activities at the upstream areas.

Friends of Sungai Juru has also taken the opportunity to hand over of a copy of Memorandum to Penang State Government outlining the problems, recommendations and suggestions on improving Sungai Juru to the Penang State Government.

Our acknowledgement and thanks to Dr Edlic Sathiamurthy, a hydrologist from University Malaysia Terengganu for his views and recommendations on improving Sungai Juru and research paper by Al-Shami S. and others – Effects of pollutionon the diversity and abundance of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Juru river basin.

Here are the snapshots of the visit by YB Chow…

At Sungai Juru Dam Area

At Tok Keramat tidal gate area near phase 4 Perai Ind Area

Close up view of the affluents flowing into Sungai Juru..

written by tan \\ tags: Sungai Juru

Date 5/7/2008
Time 10.00 am – 11.00 am
Weather : bright sunny day. no rain for past 24 hours.

Conducted By Friends of Sungai Juru
Contact 012-4285453
Crew Size : 2 persons

Here are the results of the water testing ;

Sungai Juru Dam area near Tmn Bkt Minyak
Physical monitoring
Colour and appearance – slightly murky
Smell – smelly
Vegetation – bushes / field grass
Animals – Nil
Activities – human settlement area, housing / construction going on nearby

Chemical monitoring
Variables
PH – 7
Dissolved oxygen (DO) – 8 ppm
Turbidity – 40 JTU
Phosphate – 4 ppm
Nitrate – 5 ppm
Temperature – 28 C
Coliform bacteria – positive

Photograph showing the water testing site.
(to the back is the construction site of the new DID district office)

Parit 4, Bukit Tengah Industrial Area in front of Sky Resources and Petronas

Physical monitoring
Colour and appearance – murky with oilly patches on water surface
Smell – strong smell of grease and oil
Vegetation – bushes / field grass
Animals – Nil
Activities – factories area and eateries and workshops at upstream

Chemical monitoring
Variables
PH – 7
Dissolved oxygen (DO) – 0 ppm
Turbidity – 100 JTU
Phosphate – 4 ppm
Nitrate – 5 ppm
Temperature – 28 C
Coliform bacteria – positive

Photographs showing the location of Parit 4, near Sky Resources factory and Petronas in Bukit Tengah Industrial Area.

Close up view of the oilly water surface…

written by tan \\ tags: water health check

Professor Arshad is a currently a Visiting Professor at USM Penang and specialized in aquatic entomology field. Read more on his profile and publications and technical bulletins.

Professor Arshad Ali from University of Florida, IFAS (centre), Salman PhD Student(USM) at Friends of Sungai Juru Tan Chai Liang’s office

written by tan \\ tags: Juru river pollution

The program was organized by Penang State Department of Environment together with the co-ordination of Penang State DID. A total of 80 students from various secondary schools of Penang State have been selected to participate in this Environment program held at Taman Rimba Cerok Tekun, Bukit Mertajam from 14th to 16th April 2008.

A river ranger training program for the students was included as part of the actitivies whereby DID Penang also roped in 8 river ranger trainers to conduct the briefing and training the students. The program aims to enhance the awareness level of the students towards environment.. Read more related storey at Star’s Eye-opening eco-camp at park.

Here the some snapshots of the programme ;-

Participants attending to the briefing on river ranger program at Taman rimba Cerok Tekun, Jalan Kulim, Bukit Mertajam.

DID Penang officer giving briefing and slide presentation to the students

Students are divided into 5 groups before going to the riverside..

Students conducting water health check using water monitoring kit.

Observing and record down the findings..

Students are on the look out for biological/aquatic of the river. So much fun and discovery !!!

Each group’s representative to present their findings and results ..

written by tan \\ tags: river ranger program