Modeling Quality and Pollution Load Capacity of the Musi River Using QUAL2Kw

Authors

  • Rafles Ami Poza Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Nur Faizaturrohmah Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Erlina Kurnianingtyas Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Isoralla Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Dion Awfa Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Rifka Noor Azizah Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Muhammad Ulin Nuha Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Arif Rohman Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Aulia Try Atmojo Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author
  • Daffa Adli Nauval Purnomo Institut Teknologi Sumatera Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31599/1e9rfg06

Keywords:

River Quality, Pollutant Load Capacity, Musi River, QUAL2Kw

Abstract

The aim is to analyze water quality and determine the pollutant load of the Musi River in Palembang City using the QUAL2K model. The method involved collecting water-quality data (TSS, NH₃, COD, and pH), calibrating and validating the model using hydraulic and water-quality parameters, and simulating the burden on the power capacity of the polluted river. The research results show that the QUAL2Kw model has high accuracy and performs well under representative field conditions. As for the spatial distribution, TSS and NH3 concentrations tend to increase from upstream to downstream due to anthropogenic activity, but they remain within safe limits. For COD, conditions tend to exceed the river’s capacity, with marked negative values. This indicates a high organic pollution pressure and the potential to degrade the quality of the aquatic ecosystems. This model can be used as a good basis for sustainable management of river water quality.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Nur Faizaturrohmah, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

  • Erlina Kurnianingtyas, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Integrated Water Management Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

  • Isoralla, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Integrated Water Management Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

  • Dion Awfa, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

  • Rifka Noor Azizah, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

  • Muhammad Ulin Nuha, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Geomatics Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

  • Arif Rohman, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Geomatics Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

  • Aulia Try Atmojo, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Geomatics Engineering, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

  • Daffa Adli Nauval Purnomo, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

    Departement of Landscape Architecturer, Faculty of Infrastructure and Regional Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia

References

Agency, J. I. C. (JICA). (2019). Supporting Report B Hydrology And Hydraulics (Musi River Basin).

Ahnouch, L. B., Buschman, F., Boisgontier, H., Bio, A., Vieira, L. R., Antunes, S. C., Kett, G. F., Sousa-pinto, I., & Iglesias, I. (2025). Representing Small Shallow Water Estuary Hydrodynamics to Uncover Litter Transport Patterns. Water, 17(2698), 1–25. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ w17182698

Al-Ali, I. A., & Al-Dabbas, M. A. (2022). Assessment of some organic and inorganic pollution Indices / Euphrates River / Iraq. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(April), 12395–12417. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS3.9484

Al-Dalimy, S. Z., & Al-Zubaidi, H. A. M. (2023). Application of QUAL2K Model for Simulating Water Quality in Hilla River, Iraq. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 24(6), 272–280. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/162873

Burescu, F., Chereji, B., & Gavrilas, S. (2025). The Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on the Catchment ’ s Water Quality Parameters. Water, 17(1791), 1–24. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121791

Ciawi, Y., Padilla, P. M. D., & Yekti, M. I. (2022). The strategy of Tukad Badung pollution control using QUAL2Kw and AHP. 4th International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1117(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1117/1/012071

Darji, J., & Lodha, P. (2025). QUAL2Kw – A Water Quality Modeling Tool for Rivers and Streams: A Review. International Journal on Science and Technology (IJSAT), 16(3), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.71097/ijsat.v16.i3.7594

Darmian, M. D., & Schmalz, B. (2024). Ecological Informatics River quality management : Integrating uncertainty , failure probability , and assimilation capacity. Ecological Informatics, 83(June), 102829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2024.102829

Darmian, M. D., & Schmalz, B. (2025). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Uncertainty analysis in river quality management considering failure probability : controllable and uncontrollable input pollutants. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 289(January), 117698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117698

Dewangan, S. K., Toppo, D. N., & Kujur, A. (2023). Investigating the Impact of pH Levels on Water Quality : An Experimental Approach. International Journal For Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology, 11(September), 756–759. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2023.55733

Fahmi, M. ., Rohman, A., Ahsan, S. ., Firmansyah, F., Perdananugraha, G. ., & Rusyidi, A. . (2023). Evaluation of ammonium issues in Indonesian groundwater : Potential sources and removal methods Evaluation of ammonium issues in Indonesian groundwater : Potential sources and removal methods. 6th International Symposium on Green Technology for Value Chains 2022, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1201/1/012108

Fitriana, F., Yudianto, D., & Seo, Y. C. (2025). Comparative analysis of water quality models for the Cibarani Irrigation Channel using WASP and QUAL2Kw. Sustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 9(2), 162–172. https://doi.org/10.22515/sustinere.jes.v9i2.487

García-avila, F., Sinche-morales, A., Sagal-bustamante, F., Criollo-illescas, F., & Valdiviezo-gonzales, L. (2025). Exploring the Potential of Mathematical Self-Purification Models Used for Evaluating Water Quality in Rivers. Earth, 6(131), 1–36. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/earth6040131

Haryono, I., Agustina, H., & Soesilo, T. E. B. (2024). Biophysics indicators as the sustainable strategy for river pollution control : Case study in Jangkok River , Mataram. Journal of Sustainability, Society, and Eco-Welfare (JSSEW), 2(1), 29–48. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61511/jssew.v2i1.2024.943

Hu, J., Sun, L., Li, C. H., Wang, X., Jia, X. L., & Cai, Y. P. (2018). Water quality risk assessment for the laoguanhe river of China using a stochastic simulation method. Journal of Environmental Informatics, 31(2), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.3808/jei.201800387

Jaywant, S. A., & Arif, K. M. (2024). Remote Sensing Techniques for Water Quality Monitoring : A Review. Sensors, 24(8041), 1–31. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/s24248041

Juwana, I., Sodri, A., Muttil, N., Hikmat, R. R., Indira, A. L., & Sutadian, A. D. (2024). Potential Pollution Loads of the Cikembar Sub-Watershed to the Cicatih River, West Java, Indonesia. Water, 16(256), 1–23. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/w16020256

Lestari, H., Haribowo, R., & Yuliani, E. (2019). Determination of Pollution Load Capacity Using QUAL2Kw Program on The Musi River Palembang. Civil and Environmental Science, 002(02), 105–116. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.civense.2019.00202.4

Mazioti, A. A., Kolovoyiannis, V., Krasakopoulou, E., Tragou, E., Zervakis, V., Assimakopoulou, G., Athiniotis, A., Paraskevopoulou, V., Pavlidou, A., & Zeri, C. (2024). Implementation of a Far-Field Water Quality Model for the Simulation of Trace Elements in an Eastern Mediterranean Coastal Embayment Receiving High Anthropogenic Pressure. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 12(797), 1–25. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/ 10.3390/jmse12050797

Melka, E. G., & Aragaw, T. T. (2026). Industrial effluent impact on Wabe River : a QUAL2Kw water quality simulation. Environ Monit Assess, 198(406), 1–25. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-026-15230-3

Mujib, M. A., Ikhsan, F. A., Apriyanto, B., Astutik, S., & Khasanah, A. N. (2022). Evaluasi Daya Tampung Beban Pencemaran Air Sungai Menggunakan Pendekatan Metode Neraca Massa. Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan Indonesia, 21(2), 152–161. https://doi.org/10.14710/jkli.21.2.152-161

Ogbonna, C. G., Ahuchaogu, E. U., Nwachi, C. C., Okeoma, I. O., & Emeana, R. C. (2023). Total Suspended Solids Loading Of Stormwater From Different Land Use Areas In An Urban Watershed Introduction . Most Cities In Sub-Saharan Africa , Nigeria Inclusive , Have Witnessed Rapid Urbanization With The Attendant Complexities In Land-Use Developme. Journal Of Innovations And Sustainability, 7(2), 09. Https://Doi.Org/Https://Doi.Org/10.51599/Is.2023.07.02.09.

Oyetunji, A. K., Akatah, B. M., Onungwe, I., & Choice, L. (2025). Assessment of Water Quality and Pollution Load Capacity of the Mmubete Stream in Nigeria. Turkish Journal of Science & Technology, 20(1), 173–184. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55525/tjst.1541073

Patel, H. B., & Jariwala, N. D. (2024). Determining Assimilative Capacity Of River Tapi Using QUAL2Kw Model. Water Conservation and Management, 8(2), 217–226. https://doi.org/10.26480/wcm.02.2024.217.226

Poedjiastoeti, H., Indrawati, R., & Tengah, J. (2015). Simulation of Pollution Load Capacity using QUAL2Kw in Babon River. 2nd Integrated Solution to Overcome the Climate Change Impact on Coastal Areand Integrated Solution to Overcome the Climate Change Impact on Coastal Area, C-V–261, 1–12.

Purwono, P., Ristiawan, A., Ulya, A. U., Matin, H. A. A., & Ramadhan, B. S. (2019). Physical-chemical quality analysis of Serayu River water, Banjarnegara, Indonesia in different seasons. Sustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 3(1), 39–47. https://doi.org/10.22515/sustinere.jes.v3i1.83

Putra, F. Y. E. (2017). Studi Penentuan Daya Tampung Beban Pencemaran Hilir Sungai Musi Ruas Ptba-Kilang Pertamina Kota Palembang Dengan Menggunakan Aplikasi Qual2kw [Universitas Brawijaya]. http://repository.ub.ac.id/id/eprint/7761/

Raeisi, N., Moradi, S., & Scholz, M. (2022). Surface Water Resources Assessment and Planning with the QUAL2KW Model: A Case Study of the Maroon and Jarahi Basin (Iran). Water (Switzerland), 14(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/w14050705

Rahutami, S., Said, M., Ibrahim, E., & Herpandi. (2022). Actual Status Assessment and Prediction of the Musi River Water Quality, Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 23(10), 68–79. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/152284

Rendana, M., Yandriani, Y., Pitayati, P. A., Izzudin, M., & Lestari, M. (2022). Assessment of Water Quality Status and Pollution Index in Musi River, South Sumatera, Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 6(4), 114–118. https://doi.org/10.26554/ijems.2022.6.4.114-118

Rodríguez-Martínez, G., I. Galaviz-Villa, S. Partida-Sedas, C.A. Sosa-Villalobos, R. de G. Bernal-Ramírez, V. Alcántara-Méndez, & A. García-Saldaña. (2021). Water Erosion , its Relationship to Total Suspended Solids and Water Quality in the Lower Basin of the Usumacinta River , Tabasco , Mexico. Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 20(3), 1097–1106.

Salem, M. S., Hassan, N. M. H., Aly, M. M., Soliman, Y., Peters, R. W., & Mostafa, M. K. (2025). Integrating Deep Learning and Process-Based Modeling for Water Quality Prediction in Canals : CNN-LSTM and QUAL2K Analysis of Ismailia Canal. Sustainability, 17(7743), 1–20. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su17177743

Samborska-goik, K., & Pogrzeba, M. (2024). A Critical Review of the Modelling Tools for the Reactive Transport of Organic Contaminants. Applied Science, 14(3675), 1–65. https://doi.org/https:// doi.org/10.3390/app14093675

Savvidis, Y., Papadimitriou, C. A., Apostolidou, S., & Galinou-Mitsoudi, S. (2025). Microplastics from the Post-Flood Agricultural Soils of Thessaly ( Greece ) Entering the NW Aegean Sea : A Preliminary Modeling Study for Their Transport in the Marine Environment. Water, 17(1666), 1–25. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ w17111666

Soares, S., Vasco, J., & Scalize, P. (2023). Water Quality Simulation in the Bois River, Goiás, Central Brazil. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(4), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043828

Syafrudin, S., Sarminingsih, A., Juliani, H., Budihardjo, M. A., Puspita, A. S., & Wati, H. R. (2026). Application of Models for Assessing Pollution Load Capacity and Strategic Management of the Klampok Sub-Watershed. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 35(2), 1785–1798. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/199768

Wiratmojo, M. A., Tri Budi Prayogo, & Emma Yuliani. (2023). Daya Tampung Beban Pencemaran Nitrat dan Fosfat Sungai Brantas Ruas Sengkaling-Tlogomas, Kota Malang. Jurnal Teknologi Dan Rekayasa Sumber Daya Air, 3(2), 205–216. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jtresda.2023.003.2.018

Yue, F., Li, S., Liu, C., Zhao, Z., & Ding, H. (2017). Tracing nitrate sources with dual isotopes and long term monitoring of nitrogen species in the Yellow. Scientific Reports, 7(8537), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08756-7

Yusuf, I. A. (2016). Penentuan Parameter Kinetik Model Kualitas Air Untuk Sungai : Studi Kasus Di Zona Hulu Sungai Citarum Determination Of Kinetic Parameters For River Water Quality Model : A Case Study In The Upper Zone Of Citarum River. Jurnal Teknik Hidraulik, 7(1), 31–46.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-30

Issue

Section

Articles