Groundwater potential in the Sarawak coastal zones

Nur Afnie Faryisha, Hamsah (2006) Groundwater potential in the Sarawak coastal zones. [Final Year Project Report / IMRAD] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The knowledge of groundwater resource in Sarawak is sparse. This is probably due to the abundance of surface water resulting from the heavy precipitation, which amounts to more than 3000mm/year. Consequently, the demand for groundwater is very low. Despite this, research groundwater potential need to be done especially at the coastal zones in Sarawak, where the surface water supplies are unable to cope with the demand for fresh water during the drier months of the year. Realizing this, two coastal zones namely Belawai and Kabong were selected as study areas. The type of aquifer identified in these areas is unconfined aquifer. Studies in the both areas were done by analysing reports available in Minerals and Geoscience Department. Analysis on the type of soil bounded the areas and groundwater qualities were done including the pumping test results in both areas. In order to determine the hydraulic properties, the pumping test results were analysed using the steady state method. Based on the study, both study areas are bounded with sand and clay. Due to the existence of peat and silt in Kabong, the permeability of the soil is lower. This explained the lower value of hydraulic conductivity K in Kabong (0.65 mh-I ) compared to Belawai (1.81 mh-I). Meanwhile,transmissivity, T of aquifer in Belawai (62.42 m2h-l) is larger compared to the transmissivity, T of aquifer in Kabong (4.56 m2h-I).This is the reason why drawdown, s of pumping test conducted in Belawai (4.43m) was slightly higher than that in Kabong (4.01m). The greater value of drawdown leads to greater value of discharge, Q during pumping. Based on the results, a conclusion was made that Belawai has the higher groundwater potential compared to Kabong. Furthermore, pH of groundwater in both areas are in natural range of around pH 7 and the chloride content in groundwater of both areas are low with no salt water intrusion. Furthermore, the groundwater quality in both areas meets the WHO standards; thus the fresh groundwater in both areas is safe to be supplied to the public communities along the coastal zones.

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