report nature oricc.docx

8/14/2019 REPORT NATURE ORICC.docx

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Topic : The Impact Of Land Use At UTHM

To The Natural Environment

Location : Lake in front of ORICC

LITERATURE REVIEW


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LITERATURE REVIEW

POLLUTION

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause

adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as

noise,heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution can be either foreign substances /

energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source or

non-point source pollution

WATER POLLUTION

Water is a good solvent. Therefore it is rarely found, except in chemical laboratory,

free from impurities. Even rain water has dissolved gases in it. Our perception of pollution

of water is dependent on the situation. What we perceived as pollution of water of a mountain

spring is different from that of water of an estuary. This is because both the waters has

different designated uses. While mountain spring water is expected to be directly potable,

estuary water has different uses. For example fishery and industrial cooling. Spring water

may contain harmless minerals but should be almost totally free from pathogenic bacteria.

Their presence in an estuary ( unless in heavy doses ) is not of serious concern. The practical

and rational definition of water pollution can thus be the following :

Lakes often contain high pollution levels relative to the surrounding landscapes and

environment. Rivers and streams drain pollutants from the landscape where they concentrate

in lakes and other water bodies.Aquatic species such as fish can be extremely high in

contaminants as some pollutants dont readily dissolve and dilute in water and are instead

taken up into organisms. Some species of aquatic organisms are particularly sensitive to

pollution; they are used as indicators of pollution and are called bio-indicators.

The presence of deleterious matter in such quantities to make the water unsuitable for it

designated use .
http://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/aquatic-species.htmlhttp://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/aquatic-species.html


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Because lakes drain a large surrounding landscape, they reflect the processes and

actions that operate around them. When chemicals are spilled, they can drain into nearby

streams and be transported downstream into lakes. Pollution is generally categorized by how

it enters a lake either point source or non-point source pollution.

Point Source Pollution :

Contaminants that enter a water body that can be traced back to a specific source, location,

and offender. Point source pollution is easier to manage compared to non-point source

pollution.

Non-Point Source Pollution :

Contaminants that enter a water body that cannot be traced back to a specific source, location,

and offender. Rather, this pollution comes from many diffuse sources and often enters in

small amounts but can become concentrated in lakes and other freshwater resources.


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WATER POLLUTANT

Pollutant Sources Effects

Petroleum

Products

Oil and chemicals

derived from oil

are used for fuel,

lubrication, plastics

manufacturing, and

many other

purposes.

These petroleum products

get into water mainly by

means of accidental spills

from ships, tanker trucks,

pipelines, and leaky

underground storagetanks.

Many petroleum products are poisonous if

ingested by animals, and spilled oil damages

the feathers of birds and the fur of animals,

often causing death. IN addition, spilled oil

may be contaminated with other harmful

substances, such as PCBs (polychlorinated

biphenyls).

Pesticides and

Herbicides

Chemicals used to

kill unwanted

animals and plants,

for instance on

farms or in

suburban yards.

These chemicals may be

collected by rainwater

runoff and carried into

streams, especially if

these substances are used

in excess.

Some of these chemicals are biodegradable

and quickly decay into harmless or less

harmful forms, while others are non-

biodegradable and remain dangerous for a

long time. When animals consume plants

that have been treated with certain non-

biodegradable chemicals, such as chlordane

and DDT, these chemicals are absorbed into

the tissues or organs of the animals. When

other animals feed on these contaminated

animals, the chemicals are passed up the

food chain. The concentration of the

pollutant increases through

biomagnification, so that animals at the top

of the food chains, may suffer cancers,

reproductive problems, and death. Many

drinking water supplies are contaminated


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with pesticides from widespread agricultural

use.

Heavy Metals

such as copper,

lead, mercury, and

selenium.

These metals get into

water from many sources,

including industries,

automobile exhaust,

mines, and even natural

soil. Lead can get intowater from lead pipes and

solder in older water

systems.

Like pesticides, heavy metals become more

concentrated as animals feed on plants and

are consumed by other animals. When they

reach high levels in the body, heavy metals

can be immediately poisonous, or can result

in long-term problems similar to those

caused by pesticides and herbicides. For

example, cadmium in fertilizer derived from

sewage sludge can be absorbed by crops. If

these crops are eaten by humans in sufficient

amounts, the metal can cause liver and

kidney damage.

Hazardous Waste

Chemical wastes

that are either toxic

(poisonous),

reactive (capable

of producing

explosive or toxic

gases), corrosive

(capable of

corroding steel), or

ignitable

(flammable).

These chemical wastes

can pollute water supplies

if they are stored or

treated improperly. PCBs,

a class of chemicals once

widely used in electrical

equipment such as

transformers, can get into

the environment through

oil spills and can reach

toxic levels as organisms

eat one another.

River and lake pollution can be toxic

enough to kill animal and plant life

immediately, or it can injure slowly. For

example, fluoride concentrates in teeth and

bone, and too much fluoride in water may

cause dental and bone problems. Like

pesticides and heavy metals, hazardous

wastes become more concentrated as

animals feed on plants and are consumed in

turn by other animals. When they reach high

levels in the body, hazardous wastes can be

immediately poisonous, or can result in

long-term problems similar to those caused

by pesticides and herbicides and heavy

metals.


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Excess organic

matter

Plants and algae

that grow in excess

due to fertilizer and

other nutrients

from farm and

garden runoff.

Fertilizers and other

nutrients used to promote

plant growth on farms

and in gardens may find

their way into water. At

first, these nutrients

encourage the growth of

plants and algae in water.

However, when the plant

matter and algae die and

settle underwater,

microorganisms

decompose them. The

process of decomposition,

these microorganisms

consume oxygen that is

dissolved in the water.

Oxygen levels in the water may drop to such

dangerously low levels that oxygen-

dependent animals in the water, such as fish,

die. This process of depleting oxygen to

deadly levels is called eutrophication. The

Mississippi River carries an estimated 1.5

million metric tons of nitrogen pollution into

the Gulf of Mexico each year. The resulting

dead zone in the Gulf each summer is about

the size of Massachusetts.

Sediment

Soil particles

carried to a

streambed, lake, or

ocean that can be a

pollutant if it is

present in large

enough amounts.

Soil erosion which can be

produced by the removal

of trees near waterways,

or that is carried by

rainwater and floodwater

from croplands, strip

mines, and roads.

Sedimentation can damage a stream or lake

by introducing too much nutrient matters

that leads to eutrophication. Sedimentation

can also cover streambed gravel in which

many fish, such as salmon and trout, lay

their eggs.

Infectious

Organisms

Waterborne

diseases occur

Human migration has

disseminated infectious

disease and brought

people into contact with

A study by CDC estimated that about

900,000 people get sick annually in the

United States because of organisms in their

drinking water, causing around 900 deaths.


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when parasites or

other disease-

causing

microorganisms

are transmitted

through

contaminated

water, especially

when conducted by

animal and human

feces. These

diseases include

typhoid, intestinal

parasites, and most

of the diarrheal

diseases caused by

bacteria, parasites,

and viruses.

new pathogens;

environmental change has

expanded the conditions

for native micro-

organisms to emerge as

significant human

pathogens; modern

techniques in animal

conservation, as well as

some of the more

traditional methods of

livestock farming, create

a risk from new zoonotic

diseases (an infectious

disease which normally

circulates in an animal

host but that can be

contracted by humans);

sewage pollution is also a

major contributor.

Many disease-causing organisms that are

present in small numbers in most natural

waters are considered pollutants when found

in drinking water. Parasites can cause

illness, especially in people who are very

old or very young, and in people who are

already suffering from other diseases and

occasionally are found in urban water

supplies.


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OBJECTIVE

The main objective of our project are :

1. To identify the land use on the specific area.2. To observe and discuss on the impact of the land use.3. To identify the biological indicator.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

We were given a tasked titled The Impact of Land Use at UTHM to the Natural

Environment Places as our semester 1 nature conservation project. The project contribute

20% of total carried out marks for our total marks. The area that has been chosen by our team

to conduct the research is the natural lake and around the land near Office for Research,

Innovation, Commercialization and Consultancy Management (ORICC).The main purpose of

conducting the project is to investigate the effect of land use at UTHM (ORICC) to the

natural environment places. Besides that, we also would like to do some research regarding

indicators found inside or near the lake including the land which can tell us useful

information for the assessment of the impact of land use to the natural places. The indicator

also will provide good example on determining the condition of the aquatic life and the

continuity of the organism of the ecosystem to the water quality value, besides of being use

as training ground for the UTHM rowing team club and situated near massive structure such

as the ORICC building, Tun Dr Ismail (TDI) Residential College and the wood factory.


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BACKGROUND

A lake is a body of relatively still water of considerable size, localized in a basin that

is surrounded by land apart from a river, stream, or other form of moving water that serves to

feed or drain the lake. Lakes are inland and not part of theocean and therefore are distinct

fromlagoons,and are larger and deeper thanponds.Lakes can be contrasted withrivers orstreams,which are usually flowing. However

most lakes are fed and drained by rivers and streams. Natural lakes are generally found in

mountainous areas,rift zones,and areas with ongoingglaciation.Other lakes are found inendothecia

basins or along the courses of mature rivers. In some parts of the world there are many lakes because

of chaotic drainage patterns left over from the lastIce Age.

All lakes are temporary over geologic time scales, as they will slowly fill in with sediments or

spill out of the basin containing them.Many lakes are artificial and are constructed for industrial or

agricultural use, forhydro-electric power generation or domestic water supply, or for aesthetic or

recreational purposes.

As for project, ORICC lake is been chosen. The land has approximate area of 2 acres

and receive annual rainfall of 162mm. ORICC has both dry soil as a base for its structure and

muddy soil and wet land near the natural lake.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(geology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rift_zonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorheic_basinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorheic_basinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydro-electric_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydro-electric_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorheic_basinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorheic_basinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rift_zonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(geology)


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The natural lake is formed due to the naturally low ground which retain rain water and

water from two water sources that are flowing through the canal from the man-made drain

behind the Tun Dr. Ismail (TDI) Residential College and from natural canal located in

between ORICC and TDI Residential College, which has been embank by putting gabion

wall to avoid more serious corrosion of land and also, support the land and giving a stiff bass

for the land. The lake shows many natural indicators such as Moses, green algae, and lily pad

which indicates that the lake is full with marine aquatics and organism and also indicate that

the surround land is fertile and suitable for planting a tree.


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OBSERVATION ON SITE

1. TYPES OF LANDUSE

FACTORY

BUILDING

TUN FATIMAH RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE


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TUN DR. ISMAIL RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE

OFFICE FOR RESEARCH, INNOVATION, COMMERCIALIZATION & CONSULTANCY

MANAGEMENT ( ORICC )


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PLANTING PALM TREES

ACTIVITY AT THE LAKE

ROWING ACTIVITY EVERY WEEK


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2. LAKE COLOUR

Colour changes in lake give different meaning and its corresponding to the water

quality. There are three main categories of lake color which is blue water lakes, green water

lakes and brown water lakes. Just from the colour of lake, we can get many information about

the water body including nutrient load, algal growth. It can even help us to indicate water

quality and also about the surrounding landscape. Our project lake is green in colour.

Green water lakes usually contain high concentrations of chlorophyll-containing algae

which can give water a green color. With sensors such as theYSI chlorophyll probe,we can

measure the concentration of chlorophyll. If compared to other types of lakes, green lakes are

often exposed the eutrophication and typically contain moreharmful algal blooms.From our

observation, we can see that ORICC lake is under category of green water lakes. The water

from ORICC lake is slightly green in color. Buildings around ORICC lake such as Kolej TDI

have underground septic system around the area. One of impact of those underground septic

system is it might have failure or leakage of sewage. Those sewage will absorbed by the soil

around it and drained into the lake. This causes the green color water of lakes. The poor water

quality conditions can depress dissolved oxygen levels in and these conditions can kill fish

and aquatic life in the lake where oxygen drops too low for them to survive. This is probably

why we could hardly find fish in the lake.
http://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/water-quality.htmlhttp://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/water-quality.htmlhttp://www.fondriest.com/ysi-6025.htmhttp://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/water-quality/harmful-algal-blooms.htmlhttp://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/water-quality/harmful-algal-blooms.htmlhttp://www.fondriest.com/ysi-6025.htmhttp://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/water-quality.htmlhttp://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/water-quality.html


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3. BIOLOGICAL INDICATOR

LOTUS FLOWER

BIRD

DRAGONFLIES


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FISH


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DISCUSSION

Based on what have we been discussed, there are several ways to overcome the

polluted problems. A good drainage system is crucial in maintaining a good excretion of

unwanted sewage in one building system and must be effusion in draining of water (sewage)

out to the specific place without flowing to other places (unwanted places) or over flow out of

drain and retain at one place especially during rain seasons.

Instead of building a new one, we can also upgrading our drain channel for future

because the man-made drain which channel the waste from a building are connected to the

natural canal that has been a water sources of the lake. The situation where untreated sewage

flows into the lake, it will turn the lake to be high in nutrient. In addition to that, the natural

canal also become the contributor of the existence of nutrient in water by moving water as

runoff across the surface of the soil carries nutrients. Soil particles eroded by surface water

runoff carry many nutrients.

Erosion is one of the major mechanisms contributing phosphorus to streams and

lakes. Runoff water passing over the soil surface and picks up dissolved nutrients. Runoff

soon after manure and other fertilizer applications can carry high concentrations of dissolved

nutrients. A high nutrient water can affect fish and other aquatic life, fish can die off and only

certain animals who can adapt to the environment changed will remain alive.


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Next, it also encourage the growth of certain algae and mosses that can affect quality

and clarity of water and be an indicator for unhealthy water. The human factor also contribute

in the usage of land near ORICC and the impacts towards environment. For example, the lake

officially become the home ground for UTHM Rowing Club, where the training and practice

takes place .UTHM students should be proud of our own rowing club, which continues to

rise more and more each day by winning many competition worldwide. However, rowing

activity also can give an impacts towards environment. For example, the hauling and

paddling at unsuitable or shallow depth can kill marine plant and other life, and eventually

effects the marine ecosystem. Besides that, this matter also will increased the maintenance

cost of the lake and also to the rowing gear


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CONCLUSION

The development of more buildings and infrastructure in land near and around

ORICC should be controlled and be supervised by authorities and to be kept in their attention

and see the influence of the impacts of land use to the environmental places. This is

important, because the condition of the land is still in moderate due to land use for example,

the releasing of hazardous gases to the atmosphere and leftovers residue by the nearby wood

factory to the drain that eventually flows into the lake, which can interrupt the marine

ecological system in the long period of time.

The enforcement of law regarding nature pollution has been enshrined, under the

Environmental Quality Act 1974 need to be enhanced and should be implemented in an

efficient and decisive. A sensitive act on conserving has to be decisively done especially on

the wetland and area that are rich with natural organism. This act is crucial in maintaining the

sustainability of physical environment ecosystem in UTHM.

In total, the usage of land and surround area in ORICC does not show an obvious

influential towards the impacts on environment places.


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REFERENCE

1. R.C Das, D.K. Behera. (2008).Environmental Science : Principle and Practice,Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited.

2. Cunningham. (2006).Principle of Environmental Science : Inquiry and Application.McGraw-Hill Companies.

3. Mahler, B.J., Van Metre, P.C., & Callender, E. (2006). Trends in Metals in Urban andReference Lake Sediments Across the United States, 1970-2001Environmental

Toxicolgy and Chemistry,25(7), 1698-1709.

4. Federal Officials Unveil Blueprint for Great Lakes. (2010, February 21) RetrievedFebruary 27, 2010, from The New York Times

5. Edward A. Keller, Daniel B Botkin. (2008). Essential Environmental Science. WileyPlus.

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