Pollution Characteristics and Decline in Seawater Quality with Rapid Change in Land Use: Case Study of Bima Bay, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia

2 Faculty of Earth Science and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia

3 Environmental Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Singaberbangsa Karawang, Karawang, 41361, Indonesia

4 Department of Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies, Faculty of Social Science, Radboud University, Netherlands

10.22059/poll.2025.397309.2991

Abstract

Increased anthropogenic activity in coastal areas has led to a significant decline in marine ecosystem quality, particularly due to the influx of nutrient-rich waste that triggers eutrophication. This study highlights a case of extreme pollution in Bima Bay, West Nusa Tenggara, marked by the appearance of massive brown sea foam in April 2022, covering an area of over 10 hectares. The research was conducted through water quality analysis, acute toxicity testing (LC50), microalgae identification, and satellite image interpretation. Results showed BOD concentrations of 20.8 mg/L, oil and grease at 28.5 mg/L, orthophosphate at 0.037 mg/L, and NO₃-N up to 1.194 mg/L, all exceeding the quality standards set by PP No. 22 of 2021. Toxicity testing yielded an LC50-96 hour value as low as 0.081%, categorized as highly toxic. Microalgae identification revealed a dominance of the Diatom group, such as Nitzschia sp., Navicula sp., and Surirella sp., which thrived due to high nutrient content and favorable water conditions (pH 6.92 - 7.70, high light intensity). Analysis of Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8/9 imagery showed the appearance of foam beginning on April 24 and its disappearance after May 4, 2022. This pollution is closely related to massive land use changes in the upstream area for corn farming expansion, poor domestic sanitation systems, and the semi-enclosed geographical position of Bima Bay, which hinders seawater mixing and accelerates pollutant accumulation. These findings highlight the importance of pollution mitigation based on spatial planning and integrated waste management in tropical coastal areas.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Aktan, Y., Dede, A. & Çiftçi Türetken, P. (2008). Mucilage event associated with diatoms and dinoflagellates in Sea of Marmara, Turkey. Harmful Algae News 0020-7918, 36, 1–3.
Alongi, D. (2014). Carbon Cycling and Storage in Mangrove Forests. Annual Review of Marine Science, 6, 195–219. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-010213-135020 
Anderson, D. M., Glibert, P. M. & Burkholder, J. M. (2002). Harmful algal blooms and eutrophication: Nutrient sources, composition, and consequences. Estuaries, 25(4), 704–726. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02804901 
Arthington, A. H., Bunn, S. E., Poff, N. L. & Naiman, R. J. (2006). THE CHALLENGE OF PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW RULES TO SUSTAIN RIVER ECOSYSTEMS. Ecological Applications, 16(4), 1311–1318. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[1311:TCOPEF]2.0.CO;2 
Asryadin, A., Syarifuddin, S., Nahrio, N., Sidik, M., Panjenengan, L. A. F., Ramdani, A. & Yustiqvar, M. (2022). Bima Bay Wiring, Natural Phenomenon Versus Pollution: a Review. Prisma Sains : Jurnal Pengkajian Ilmu Dan Pembelajaran Matematika Dan IPA IKIP Mataram, 10(3), 577. https://doi.org/10.33394/j-ps.v10i3.5334 
Ator, S. W., Blomquist, J. D., Webber, J. S. & Chanat, J. G. (2020). Factors driving nutrient trends in streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Journal of Environmental Quality, 49(4), 812–834. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20101 
Effendy, I. J., Balubi, A. M., Kurnia, A., Program Studi Budidaya Perairan, M. & Program Studi Budidaya Perairan Fakultas Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan Universitas Halu Oleo Jl HEA Mokodompit Kampus Hijau Bumi Tridharma Kendari, D. (2017). Identifikasi dan Kultur Jenis Diatom Epifit dari Waring Keramba Budidaya Abalon [Identification and Culture Spesies of Epiphyte Diatoms from Cage Culture of Abalone]. Media Akuatika, 2(2), 377–389.
Effendy, I. J., Patadjai, A. B., Program Studi Budidaya Perairan, M. & Program Studi Budidaya Perairan Fakultas Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan Universitas Halu Oleo JlHEA Mokodompit Kampus Bumi Tridharma Anduonohu Kendari, D. (2018). Komposisi Jenis dan Kepadatan Bentik Diatom pada Kolektor dan Kaki/otot Abalon (Haliotis asinina) yang Dipelihara di Kawasan Sistem IMTA (Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture) Out Door Composition Species and density of benthic Diatom on collectors and foot/muscles Abalone (Haliotis asinina) Maintained Under IMTA (Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture) System. Media Akuatika, 3(1), 544–555.
Fauzi, M., Soewondo, P., Handajani, M., Tedjakusuma, T., Nur, A., Qadafi, M. (2024). Characteristics and removal of microplastics in urban domestic WWTP system: A case study in Bandung city, Indonesia. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 10, https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CSCEE.2024.100999 
Gualtieri, P. & Barsanti, L. (2022). Algae Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology third Edition. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003187707 
Guo, F., Wang, Z., Yu, K. & Zhang, T. (2015). Detailed investigation of the microbial community in foaming activated sludge reveals novel foam formers. Scientific Reports, 5, 7637. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep07637 
Gypens, N., Borges, A. & LANCELOT, C. (2009). Effect of eutrophication on air-sea CO2 fluxes in the coastal Southern North Sea: A model study of the past 50 years. Global Change Biology, 15, 1040–1056. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01773.x
Hallegraeff, G., Enevoldsen, H., Zingone, A. 2021. Global Harmful Algal Bloom Status Reporting. Harmfull Algae, 102
Harmoko, H., Lokaria, E. & Anggraini, R. (2019). KEANEKARAGAMAN MIKROALGA DI AIR TERJUN SANDO, KOTA LUBUKLINGGAU, SUMATRA SELATAN. Limnotek : Perairan Darat Tropis Di Indonesia, 26. https://doi.org/10.14203/limnotek.v26i2.261 
Kale, A. & Karthick, B. (2015). The Diatoms: Big Significance of Tiny Glass Houses. Resonance, 20, 919–930.
Makubura, R., Meddage, D. P. P., Azamathulla, H. M., Pandey, M., & Rathnayake, U. (2022). A Simplified Mathematical Formulation for Water Quality Index (WQI): A Case Study in the Kelani River Basin, Sri Lanka. Fluids, 7(5), 147. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids7050147 
Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms Fifth Edition. (2002).
Napolitano, G. E. & Richmond, J. E. (1995). Enrichment of biogenic lipids, hydrocarbons and PCBs in stream-surface foams. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 14(2), 197–201. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620140203 
Paerl, H. W. & Huisman, J. (2008). Blooms Like It Hot. Science, 320(5872), 57–58. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1155398 
Rizal, A. (2021). Land Use Changes Analysis in Jakarta Bay Coastal Area Between 1998, 2008 and 2018. Jurnal Segara, 17, 135. https://doi.org/10.15578/segara.v17i2.9889 
Roito, M., Siregar, Y. I. & ’. M. (2014). Analisis Struktur Komunitas Diatom Planktonik di Perairan Pulau Topang Kabupaten Kepulauan Meranti Provinsi Riau. Jurnal Perikanan Dan Kelautan, 19(2), 22–32.
Schilling, K. & Zessner, M. (2011). Foam in the aquatic environment. Water Research, 45, 4355–4366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.06.004 
Setiasih, I., Suharno, nFN & Suryana, A. (2020). Pengembangan Kawasan Jagung Berbasis Korporasi Petani di Kabupaten Lebak, Banten. Analisis Kebijakan Pertanian, 18(2), 89–103. https://doi.org/10.21082/akp.v18n2.2020.89-103 
Seuront, L., Vincent, D. & Mitchell, J. G. (2006). Biologically induced modification of seawater viscosity in the Eastern English Channel during a Phaeocystis globosa spring bloom. Journal of Marine Systems, 61(3), 118–133. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2005.04.010 
Shetye, S. S., Bandekar, M., Nandakumar, K., Kurian, S., Gauns, M., Jawak, S., Pratihary, A., Elangovan, S. S., Naik, B. R., Lakshmi, S. & Aswathi, V. K. (2021). Sea foam-associated pathogenic bacteria along the west coast of India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08783-4
Sidabutar, T., Srimariana, E.S., Cappenberg, H., Wouthuyzen, S. 2024. Comprehensive Analysis of Harmful Algal Blooms in Indonesia: From Occurrence to Impact. Bio Web of Conference, 87
Siriwardhana, K. D., Jayaneththi, D. I., Herath, R. D., Makumbura, R. K., Jayasinghe, H., Gunathilake, M. B., Azamathulla, H. M., Tota-Maharaj, K., & Rathnayake, U. (2023). A Simplified Equation for Calculating the Water Quality Index (WQI), Kalu River, Sri Lanka. Sustainability, 15(15), 12012. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151512012 
Stanton-Geddes, Z. & Vun, Y. (2019). Strengthening the Disaster Resilience of Indonesian Cities (pp. 161–171). https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1389-4_Spotlight1 
State of the Coral Triangle : Indonesia. (2014). Asian Development Bank.
Taylor, J., Harding, B. & Archibald, C. (2007). An Illustrated Guide to Some Common Diatom Species from South Africa An Illustrated Guide to Some Common Diatom Species from South Africa.
Velimirov, B. (1980). Formation and potential trophic significance of marine foam near kelp beds in the benguela upwelling system. Marine Biology, 58(4), 311–318. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390779 
Velimirov, Branko. (1982). Sugar and Lipid Components in Sea Foam near Kelp Beds. Marine Ecology, 3(2), 97–107. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0485.1982.tb00376.x
Vijayakumar, C.R., Balasubramani, D.P., Azamathulla, H.M. (2022). Assessment of groundwater quality and human health risk associated with chromium exposure in the industrial area of Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 12(1), 58–67. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2021.260
Weber, C. I. (1991). Methods for measuring the acute toxicity of effluents and receiving waters to freshwater and marine organisms (fourth edition). https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5809630 
Wijaya, A. & Susetyo, C. (2017). Analisis Perubahan Penggunaan Lahan di Kota Pekalongan Tahun 2003, 2009, dan 2016. Jurnal Teknik ITS, 6. https://doi.org/10.12962/j23373539.v6i2.24454