August 05, 2009 18:05 PM

Using Bio-Indicators To Assess River Quality In Kelantan

PASIR PUTEH, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan Drainage and Irrigation Department will use invertebrates as bio-indicators to assess the pollution of about 600 rivers in the state before cleaning them.

Its director, Anuar Yahya said the invertebrates (animals that lack a backbone or spinal column) chosen were leeches, worms, snails, prawns and freshwater spiders.

The programme will save time and cost in identifying the rivers that require clean up jobs and the extend of work needed, he told reporters at the launch of the Monitoring of Water Quality Using Bio-Indicators at Sungai Jernih here on Wednesday.

He said the freshwater animals used as bio-indicators were sensitive to water pollution and they would be decimated or become extinct if the rivers were polluted.

Water samples from dirty rivers will be analysed to determine the level of pollution before they are cleaned up, he said, adding that two rivers from each district had been chosen under the programme.

-- BERNAMA

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