Abstract:
Setiu-Bari-Chalok-Merang (Setiu-Merang) coastal river and its estuarine lagoon
(Setiu Wetlands Lagoon-SWL) are located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia,
is an important coastal zone subjected to increased anthropogenic influences. The
rivers and lagoon in Setiu play an important role in local social economic
development. However, these waterways had encountered huge pollution challenges
from various anthropogenic inputs. Its pollution sources, fate and transport in both
surface water and groundwater have not yet been investigated in detail.
Hence, the primary objective of this thesis is to study the spatio-temporal distribution
trends of selected nutrients species (NH4+- -N, NO3- -N, NO23- -N, PO4-P) in both
Setiu-Merang Rivers and lagoon and its relationship in association with land use
changes, geomorphological alteration and seasonality. In addition, a study on the
surface water-groundwater interaction was conducted in one of tributaries, Ular
River to evaluate the magnitude of nutrient input through the groundwater discharge
and its effect to the surface water quality in SWL.
