Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 81, May 2026, pp. 71 – 83
Baseline study of surface and groundwater quality in response to groundwater recharge potential
Lakam anak Mejus1,*, Ismail bin Tawnie2, Azrul Normi bin Idris2, Mohd Muzamil bin Mohd Hashim1, Mohamad Syahiran bin Mustaffa1, Engku Fahmi bin Engku Chik1
1 Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Waste Technology and Environment Division, Environmental Tracer Application Group, Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
2 National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Lot 5377, Jalan Putra Permai, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
* Corresponding author email address: lakam@nm.gov.my
Abstract: The growing demand for water in some parts of Malaysia has resulted in the use of groundwater resources as an alternative water supply. Moreover, the expenses for water supply treatment have recently increased, and water management authorities must increase their water tariffs. To address these challenges, flood mitigation ponds are being upgraded to dual-function ponds to store water resources. However, the impact of dual-function ponds on naturally stabilizing or improving water quality remains largely unexplored in the existing literature. This study aims to address this gap by presenting baseline data on water resource quality during the construction of a dual-function pond, with the goal of establishing a long-term database to support the successful implementation of such ponds. The selection of a suitable dual-function pond site was based on preferable geological conditions. A 3D hydrogeological block model was constructed to characterize a heterogeneous alluvial aquifer system within a portion of the Melaka River Basin. Water samples, including surface water, groundwater, and precipitation, were collected and analysed for their isotopic signatures and chemical properties. The baseline results indicated that a high volume of precipitation within short time frames leads to increased runoff and reduced groundwater recharge. Isotopic analysis revealed a depletion of 18O and 2H at the proposed pond location, with enrichment observed in the southern part of the Melaka River, suggesting a preferential sourcing of river water from isotopically heavier wet season precipitation or water enriched by evaporation from storage in landscapes. Chemical analysis indicated that most heavy metal concentrations were below the maximum allowable limits. Overall, the baseline data suggest that the proposed dual-function pond is suitable for the studied 664 km2 region, with respect to water quality concerns.
Keywords: Melaka river basin, hydrogeological block model, isotopic signature, chemistry analysis, hydrogeology, Melaka
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Manuscript received 12 June 2025;
Received in revised form 4 July 2025;
Accepted 17 July 2025
Available online 29 May 2026
https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm81202607
0126-6187; 2637-109X / Published by the Geological Society of Malaysia.
© 2026 by the Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License 4.0.
