Water Quality in Thirty Freshwater Springs and Twenty Four Brackish Springs in the Karst Area to Realize Sustainable Water Resources Management

Abstract

Clean water is an unlimited and sustainable need that must be fulfilled every day and meet an appropriate standard in terms of quantity and quality. The research objective in this study was to analyze the quality of water in thirty freshwater springs and twenty four brackish springs in the karst area of Buton Tengah Regency to achieve sustainable water resource management. Data on the quality of freshwater springs and brackish water springs chemically and biologically have been analyzed in the biology laboratory of FMIPA Universitas Halu Oleo, then the results are compared with the standards for water quality contained in the regulations of the Minister of Health and Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia. The results showed that the freshwater springs in Talaga Raya District exceeded the water quality standards for hardness parameter, while the brackish springs in Mawasangka Tengah, Mawasangka Timur, Lakudo, and Mawasangka Districts has exceeded the water quality standards for parameters of total dissolved solids, hardness, and chloride. However, these parameters are relatively easy to overcome so that the use of freshwater springs can qualify as drinking water, while the use of brackish springs should be used to meet domestic non-drinking water needs.