QUAL2Kw Simulation for Pollution Control Strategies: A Case Study of the Cikakembang River, West Java']Java, Indonesia

The degradation of river ecosystems due to urbanization and industrial discharges is a pressing environmental issue affecting ecosystem health and sustainable human livelihoods. This study focuses on the Cikakembang River, a critical tributary of the Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia, which exemplifies these challenges with alarming pollution levels. Recent measurements revealed significant water quality degradation, with elevated concentrations of harmful pollutants far exceeding environmental safety thresholds. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the pollution levels at the river and identify viable mitigation strategies to address the river's deteriorating condition. This study utilized a robust methodology that combined water sampling, laboratory analysis, and the application of the QUAL2Kw model to simulate scenarios of pollution control. Results indicated critical levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), with values reaching up to 60 mg/L and 150 mg/L, respectively, starkly illustrating the river's pollution severity. The proposed strategies, including ammonia concentration control, aerator placement, and integrated approaches combining wastewater treatment and upstream water conditioning, have demonstrated substantial pollutant reductions. These findings underscored the efficacy of combined pollution control measures and highlighted the challenges in fully achieving stringent environmental standards. The study thus recommends additional strategies, including regulatory adjustments and further refinement of pollution control measures, to meet the ambitious environmental goals set by the Indonesian Government for the Cikakembang River. The insights massed from this research provide a valuable framework for policy development and environmental management strategies aimed at revitalizing and sustaining the river's ecological health.