Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Kelantan and Pahang, Malaysia

Groundwater which is a source of domestic use for consumers, requires an assessment to avoid health issues. This study was conducted to evaluate the water quality of tube wells in terms of heavy metal content, natural radioactive material (NORM) and pathogenic bacteria in Kelantan and Pahang, Malaysia. The results of this study showed that the content of Fe (90-42100 mu g/L) and Mn (3-478 mu g/L) obtained was high and can affect the overall water quality. The NORM content contained in the water is 0.02-0.08 Bq/L for total Alpha activation, and 0.02-0.15 Bq/L for total beta activation that is below the safe level set by WHO. The NORM content in soil samples is in the range of 401-1348 Bq/kg for 40K, 19-175 Bq/kg for 232Th, and 28-318 Bq/kg for 238U which are acceptable in Malaysia. Estimated annual radiation doses range from 52 mu Sv/year to 379 mu Sv/year, and are in the safe range for the general public. All water samples from Kelantan and two water samples from Pahang contained enteropathogenic bacteria especially Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. which exceeds National Water Quality Standards. It can be concluded that the quality of groundwater is safe to use during an emergency, but it should be treated before drinking.