Chemical characteristics of water at the upper reaches of the Sebangau River, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Seasonal discharge measurements and water samplings were carried out at the upper reaches of the Sebangau River in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The samples were analyzed for chemical contents and total suspended solids, in order to clarify the relationship between river discharge (flux) and water chemistry. The river runs through tropical peat forest in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan. The Sebangau River flux was classified into dry season flux and rainy season flux by flow quantity. But water quality did not differ greatly between the two seasons. The great rainfall-retentiveness of tropical peat bogs may contribute to stability of the runoff load factor.