Modeling Quality and Pollution Load Capacity of the Musi River Using QUAL2Kw

Rafles Ami Poza (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Nur Faizaturrohmah (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Erlina Kurnianingtyas (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Isoralla (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Dion Awfa (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Rifka Noor Azizah (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Muhammad Ulin Nuha (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Arif Rohman (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Aulia Try Atmojo (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)
Daffa Adli Nauval Purnomo (Institut Teknologi Sumatera)

Journal of Engineering Environtmental Energy and Science
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): JUNI 2026

The aim is to analyze water quality and determine the pollutant load of the Musi River in Palembang City using the QUAL2K model. The method involved collecting water-quality data (TSS, NH₃, COD, and pH), calibrating and validating the model using hydraulic and water-quality parameters, and simulating the burden on the power capacity of the polluted river. The research results show that the QUAL2Kw model has high accuracy and performs well under representative field conditions. As for the spatial distribution, TSS and NH3 concentrations tend to increase from upstream to downstream due to anthropogenic activity, but they remain within safe limits. For COD, conditions tend to exceed the river’s capacity, with marked negative values. This indicates a high organic pollution pressure and the potential to degrade the quality of the aquatic ecosystems. This model can be used as a good basis for sustainable management of river water quality.