Sustainability Project Proposal: Using Effective Microorganism (EM) Mud Ball to

Highlight Water Quality Issues for Conservation

By
Wan Ahmad Azimi Bin Wan Azmin
815726
Tanjung Sepat is a small coastal town located in the district of Kuala Langat,
which is in the south of Selangor state. The majority of economic activity that
took place in 1970s was more to fisheries, but has been declined due to the
pollution in the water (Cheong et al, 2011). Due to the agricultural runoff into the
rivers from pig farms and palm estates, the water quality in the rivers that feed
to the Malacca Strait has drastically affected the livelihoods of the fishermen and
the local residents that made complaints about the foul smell in the area
(Malaysiakini, 2011a & 2011b). To counter this issue, this project proposes to use
effective microorganism (EM) mud ball method to study on the following aspects:
i) the effectiveness of using this technique; ii) teaching students on water quality
testing and monitoring on before, during, and after the throwing of EM mud ball
into the river; and iii) using the data to recommend river cleanup with using EM
mud ball. The costing of this project will cover on purchasing the following items:
i) water quality testing kits; ii) purchase of EM1 to make mud balls; iii) rice
bran; iv) Styrofoam boxes to contain the mud balls for 1 week; and
v) stationaries. Additional expenditures will be included further in the progress
report. The duration of this project will be conducted within the months of
January and February 2014, which the water quality testing & monitoring will
take place on dry weather. Hence, the data collection on water quality testing
may be affected by change in unexpected weather pattern. Hypothetical
outcome from this project would focus on the changes in water quality, students
applying their knowledge on water via the monitoring tests, reduction in slime
and sludge in the river, and bring restored faith to fisheries economy in the area.
Lastly, this project deals with the fact that environmental stewardship can prove
that education is the greatest tool in conservation and preservation for a
sustainable future.
Reference:
Cheong, Y. M. G., Har, C. L., Lee, J. X., Lim, S. Y., Lam, C. N., Oh, W. H., Sia, S. Z.,
Tan, And C. K.. (2011). Name of New Village: Tanjung Sepat, Selangor. Utar
New Village Community Project Report. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Retrieved 28 November 2013, From
Http://Www.Utar.Edu.My/Dssc/File/Tanjung%20sepat,%20selangor.Pdf.
EM Research Organization. (2013). How to make EM Mudballs. Retrieved 28
November, 2013, from http://www.emrojapan.com/about-em/emproducts/activated-materials/howtomakeballs.html
MG EcoTech Group. (2012). EM1. Retrieved 28 November, 2013, from
http://www.mgecotech.com/products/em

Malaysiakini. (2011a). Smelling Tanjung Sepat. YouTube. Retrieved 28 November,

2013, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEuKmQiIgsI
Malaysiakini. (2011b). Whichever way the wind blows, Tg.Sepat reeks. YouTube.
Retrieved 28 November, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dBebgl3dY