Water Quality Pollution Control and Watershed Management Based on Community Participation in Maros City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: How Different Water-related Public Concerns Contribute to Water Governance in China

Public participation is crucial to improving the performance of water governance systems, especially in a governance model dominated by a top-down hierarchical structure. Public concerns, as a vital form of public participation, have been acknowledged as an essential component in contributing to water governance. However, few studies explore the varying effects of diverse public concerns in leading to different water governance outcomes. This study addresses this gap by exploring the direct and indirect effects of water-related public concerns on water pollution control and governments' pollution mitigating actions, using citizens' water-related posts crawled from China's social media. Results show that public water-related concerns contribute to water governance both through its direct effects on reducing water pollution and indirect effects by promoting policy actions. Specifically, the concerns related to water pollution hazards, water pollution monitoring, prevention products, and water pollution control measures have more positive impacts on water pollution reduction compared to other types of concern. Meanwhile, public concerns demonstrate stronger effects in triggering economic-related and infrastructure-related water pollution mitigation actions. This study provides nuanced insights to understand the role of public participation in improving water governance, the findings of which are insightful to enhance accountability of water governance systems through a bottom-up approach.

Water quality of improved water sources and associated factors in Kibuku District, Eastern Uganda

Globally, billions of people still lack access to safe water, including basic drinking water services, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed water quality for improved water sources and associated factors in Kibuku district, Eastern Uganda. The mixed-methods study employed included; water quality analysis, a questionnaire survey, and key informant interviews conducted in the months of April-June 2020. A total of 249 improved water sources were sampled for analysis of bacteriological quality, pH, and electrical conductivity. This was followed by a sanitary and people's attitudes survey at all the water sources visited. Among the water sources, 62.3% deep boreholes, 63.5% public tap stands, 14.3% rain-water harvesting tanks, and 28.6% protected springs had zero thermotolerant coliforms with 63.8% having acceptable pH levels (6.5-8.5) and 35.3% having acidic levels (less than 6.4). Furthermore, 96.3% deep boreholes, 99.1% public tap stands, all (100%) rain-water harvesting tanks, and 50% protected springs had their turbidity levels in the acceptable range (less than 5NTUs). Additionally, only 22.1% of improved water sources had electrical conductivity in the acceptable range (less than 300 microSiemens). Among the 249 participants, majority (91.2%) had low knowledge levels about various methods that can be used in improving the quality of water. Generally, water sources had poor quality of water which was attributed to agricultural activities, dirty water collection containers, and poor attitude to water chlorination. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and Environment, and other agencies need to design sustainable and feasible models for water treatment for low resourced setting.

Community Health Risk Assessment of Total Suspended Particulates near a Cement Plant in Maros Regency, Indonesia

BACKGROUND

Cement plants generate particulate matter (PM) across processes from raw material preparation to packaging. The presence of total suspended particulates (TSP) coming out of the stack causes a high accumulation of dust in residential areas. Human exposure to TSP could affect human health and wellbeing.

OBJECTIVES

The present study aims to evaluate concentrations of TSP and to estimate the health risks of TSP exposure through the inhalation pathway in communities surrounding a private cement industry in Maros regency, Indonesia.

METHODS

Total suspended particulates were collected using a high-volume air sampler (HVAS) at five locations. Samples were taken by grab sampling for 24 hours. The SCREEN3 program was used to view the maximum range and distribution of pollutants based on the geographical, stack profiles and meteorological factors in the study area. Hazard quotient (HQ) was used to estimate non-carcinogenic risks of TSP in surrounding communities.

RESULTS

Total suspended particulate concentrations were measured with a maximum value of 133.24 μg/m³ and a minimum value of 18.48 μg/m³. This maximum value exceeds the minimum acceptable level from Canadian National Ambient Air Quality Objectives (C-NAAQOs). The non-carcinogenic risks from the inhalation pathway were low except for location 3 (HQ>1) across all locations.

CONCLUSIONS

The cement plant may significantly contribute to total TSP concentrations in air and may potentially have adverse effects on human health. Communities near the cement plant are vulnerable to TSP exposure and measures are needed to reduce TSP in Maros regency, Indonesia.

PARTICIPANT CONSENT

Obtained.

ETHICS APPROVAL

This study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Hasanuddin University with protocol number 28920093022.

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Land Use Change, Urban Agglomeration, and Urban Sprawl: A Sustainable Development Perspective of Makassar City, Indonesia

Urbanization towards the expansion of the city area causes urban sprawl and changes in space use. Furthermore, urban agglomeration towards urban spatial integration causes a decrease in environmental quality. This study aims to analyze (1) land-use change and urban sprawl work as determinants of environmental quality degradation in suburban areas. (2) The effect of urban sprawl, urban agglomeration, land-use change, urban activity systems, and transportation systems on environmental quality degradation in suburban areas. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches is used sequentially in this study. Data obtained through observation, surveys, and documentation. The results showed that the expansion of the Makassar City area to the suburbs had an impact on spatial dynamics, spatial segregation, and environmental degradation. Furthermore, urban sprawl, land-use change, urban agglomeration, activity systems, and transportation systems have a positive correlation to environmental quality degradation with a determination coefficient of 85.9%. This study recommends the handling of urban sprawl, land-use change, and urban agglomeration to be considered in the formulation of development policies towards the sustainability of natural resources and the environment of Makassar City, Indonesia.

Integrated Hydraulic Modelling, Water Quality Modelling and Habitat Assessment for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Anyang-Cheon Stream, Korea

Recent ecological stream restoration projects have focused on expanding the water-friendly space of streams, promoting the health of aquatic ecosystems, and restoring various habitats, which raise the need for relevant research. Applying integrated environmental analysis, this study quantifies the change in hydraulic characteristics before and after the restoration projects through physical habitat simulation and links the results of physical impacts to estimate benefits of increase in water quality and aquatic ecosystem health due to the implementation of the project. For this, the study area is a 3.3 km long reach of the Anyang-cheon Stream, Korea. Field monitoring revealed that five fish species are dominant and sub-dominant, and account for 76% of the total fish community. To assess the change of before and after ecological stream restoration project, the River2D and Coastal Modelling System (CMS)-Flow 2D models were used for hydraulic and water quality simulations, respectively. For the habitat simulation, the HSI (Habitat Suitability Index) model was used. In addition, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) was used to calculate changes in water quality index and to examine changes in habitat areas with an integrated quantitative index, the methodology of Zingraff-Hamed et al. was adopted. It was found that the ecological stream restoration project significantly increased for the eco-friendly area. In addition, the changes in water quality and habitat suitability grades before the ecological river restoration project were improved to two stages and one stage, respectively. This study applied the integrated analytical framework as a policy/project assessment tool and the results of this study will be useful for the integrated water management policy.

Community Empowerment and Utilization of Renewable Energy: Entrepreneurial Perspective for Community Resilience Based on Sustainable Management of Slum Settlements in Makassar City, Indonesia

The acceleration of metropolitan city development toward economic growth has an impact on over-urbanization, energy scarcity, slum settlements, and environmental degradation. Slum settlements that are predominantly inhabited by the urban poor will require an increase in the productivity of economic enterprises through the empowerment process. This study aims to analyze (1) community empowerment functions as determinants of the use of renewable energy in handling slum settlement and (2) the effects of community empowerment, utilization of renewable energy, strengthening of institutional capacity, and productivity of economic enterprises on improving the quality of the slum settlement environment. The study approach used is a combination of qualitative–quantitative research. Data was obtained through observation, in-depth interviews, surveys, and documentation. The results of the study show that community empowerment, coupled with the use of renewable energy, strengthening institutional capacity, and community participation, contributes positively to increasing the productivity of economic enterprises and improving environmental quality toward sustainable management of slum settlements. The effect of economic empowerment, strengthening institutional capacity, and the use of renewable energy to improve environmental quality with a coefficient of determination of 78.5%. This study recommends socio-economic empowerment based on the use of renewable energy in the implementation of the Makasssar City toward environmental, economic sustainability and the creation of social cohesion.

Economic Business Sustainability and Strengthening Human Resource Capacity Based on Increasing the Productivity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Makassar City, Indonesia

The dynamics of urban development coupled with economic growth have contributed positively to the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Optimizing the utilization and strengthening of the capacity of SMEs’ human resources will encourage increased productivity of economic enterprises and the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study aims to analyze (1) strengthening the capacity of human resources (HR) of small and medium enterprises to work as a determinant of increasing the productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and labor absorption; (2) the effect of strengthening the capacity of human resources (HR), business productivity, technology utilization, and business diversification on the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and (3) optimizing the role of government in supporting business development, increasing productivity, business stability and sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study uses a sequential explanatory design approach. Data were obtained through observation, in-depth interviews, surveys, and documentation. Qualitative analysis in this study was carried out through a process of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing, while the quantitative analysis in this study uses quantitative descriptive analysis, correlation, and multiple regression. The results showed that strengthening the capacity of human resources, coupled with the use of technology, and followed by diversification of business, had a positive contribution to increasing the productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, strengthening human resource capacity, business productivity, technology utilization, and business diversification simultaneously have a positive and significant correlation to the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with a determination coefficient of 72.3%. This study recommends that government policy support through strengthening human resource capacity, increasing business productivity, technology utilization, and business diversification have an impact on the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Makassar City, Indonesia.

Economic Evaluation, Use of Renewable Energy, and Sustainable Urban Development Mamminasata Metropolitan, Indonesia

The acceleration of the development of the Metropolitan Mamminasata area has an impact on the socio-economic dynamics of the community and the use of excess energy resources. The purpose of this study was to analyze (1) economic growth and energy security work as determinants of urban development for Metropolitan Mamminasata, (2) the effect of economic growth, energy consumption, availability of transportation infrastructure, and renewable energy on the quality of the environment and the sustainability of the Metropolitan Mamminasata system, and (3) renewable energy management strategies and sustainable urban development for Metropolitan Mamminasata. An explanatory sequential approach was used. Data were obtained through observation, surveys, and documentation. The results showed that renewable energy which has the potential to used, in the Mamminasata Metropolitan urban area to support economic growth and increase urban productivity, namely water energy, wind energy, and biomass energy. Furthermore, it takes the effectiveness and efficiency of energy users toward improving environmental quality. Economic growth, energy consumption savings, the availability of transportation infrastructure, and renewable energy have a significant effect on environmental quality, with a determination coefficient of 82.3%, and the sustainability of the Metropolitan Mamminasata system, with a determination coefficient of 75.7%. Use of renewable energy in the management of urban development will require support from government policies, as well as community and business participation. This study recommends a renewable energy management strategy as an important part of supporting the sustainability of urban development in Metropolitan Mamminasata, Indonesia.