Maintaining Water Quality in Urban Lakes: Challenges and Strategies
Abstract
This study aims to develop a comprehensive framework for managing urban lakes under varying environmental conditions and investigates the pivotal role of effective lake management in promoting sustainable development and community well-being, focusing on Malaysia and Australia. The research assesses public perceptions of lake benefits, studies the impact of lakes on quality of life, identifies water quality issues, and proposes an efficient lake management framework. A comprehensive set of examined variables included concerns about lakes, support and financial considerations for lake management improvement, and derived benefits. The 500 distributed questionnaires yielded 320 valid responses employing a survey-based approach. Statistical analyses using SPSS 27 ensured a rigorous evaluation of reliability and validity. Findings regarding lake benefits underscore the significance of positive mood impact, closely followed by physical benefits and nature observation. Exploring lake contribution factors highlighted their crucial role in encouraging patronage of nearby facilities and contributing to community and economic well-being. As for impacts on lake visits and relaxation, this study identified significant reductions linked to water level drops, declining water clarity, green algae cover, and unpleasant odors. Concerns about the changes at the lake were mainly about the financial impact and possible reduction in business for lakeside establishments. A strong endorsement for practical measures such as draining and pumping clean water was evident in support of improving lake water quality. As for potential increases in council rates or water bills, a significant majority resisted any increase, with moderate support for a 5% rise and lower favor for higher increases. The study concludes by emphasizing the critical need to prioritize sustainable lake management practices to prevent water quality degradation. The applicability of these recommendations to diverse environments, especially urban areas benefiting from blue spaces, underscores the importance of the findings. The high reliability and validity of the study’s constructs affirm the robustness of the results, providing valuable insights for policymakers and environmental practitioners.
Keywords: lake management, water quality, quality of life, blue space.
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