Group A: Day 6 Kuala Muda

The day started at 8.30 am. We followed Mr. Selva from the KMAM unit (water quality control unit) to his work stations. Due to some technical problem, it took us some time to find the first water sampling station. We werre suprise to find that the station was by the road side, a small setting that we usually omit about its existence. It was a little blue hub, with a taip water,pressure metre, and sink inside. Well, then, here started the work of Mr. Selva and his staff.



First of all, its the chlorine test.

Water sample is taken in 2 bottles (10ml each)-bottle A and bottle B.
Bottle A is for standard and bottle B is for sample reading.
Reading taken for bottle A without adding chlorine by using colorimeter (used only for chlorine reading) and it set zero.
Reading taken for bottle B by adding chlorine by using colorimeter .(Normal reading = >0.2)

SECOND,for turbidity test
Turbidity is measured by using10ml of water sample, using turbid meter.
Normal reading = < 5NTU

THIRDLY,for pH test
pH is taken by measuring 100ml water.


FOURTH, for microbiology testing
Sample water is taken in the 100ml fill line bag containing tablet (sodium thiosulphate) to clear chlorine from water for microbiology testing.

Thats a little bit about how the water sample was collected for investigation.









We followed Mr.Selva for 2 sampling collection stations before he took us to the Loji pembersihan air Sungai Petani & Pinang Tunggal (water treatment plant).

Mr Selva left the loji after handed us to the person in charge of the loji. Mr. Selva had to carry on with his 12-more-stations-water- sampling- collection- mission.

The person in charge of the loji showed us the process of the water treatment plant. It was confusing at the beginning, but we managed to sort out the process clearly( well, at least we got the basic concept about how it works). Emm, to prove that we know it clearly, let me explain the superficial info about the steps. The processes of treating the water before it reaches AIMST cafetaria are as below :

1. TREATING RAW WATER
2. OXYGENATION
3. ADDING OF CHEMICAL
4. COAGULATION
5. SEDIMENTATION
6. FILTRATION
7. SOFTENATION
8. FLORINATION
9. DISINFECTION
10. TREATED WATER STORAGE
11. LABORATORARY
12.WATER TUNNEL UNDERGROUND THAT WILL REACH AIMST CAFE, EVENTUALLY.

:-) Relax, Dr. Sapna, we definately know more than that. The above is just the SUPERFICIAL INFO, will impress you when we come back!

About 12.30 pm, all of us left the loji in a hypoglycemic and dehydration state .After an under-the-hot-sun routine group photo session with the staff of the water treatment plant, food hunting!!





























3.00pm, we gathered back in the DHO kuala muda. Mr. Selva waiting..... We had a serious in-dept Q&A session with Mr. Selva. (well, Mr. Selva has 2 sons,a daughter, AND a wife). Hmm.. apart from that, he explained to us about , the organization structure of the unit, the water monitoring & control, recovery treatment, data analysis, etc...

Then, Photo session! It took sometimes for Mr.Selva to comb his hair. (refer photo)

Well, thats the end of the day!




By: Chee Ming