THE IMPACT OF TOFU FACTORY LIQUID WASTE DISCHARGE ON THE PHYSICAL QUALITY OF RIVER WATER IN KEDUNG JAYA VILLAGE, CIREBON REGENCY

The disposal of tofu liquid waste refers to wastewater resulting from business and/or
industrial activities, which, if discharged carelessly, can lead to water pollution. This has
become a contributing factor in the decline of the physical quality of river water in Kedung
Jaya Village, Cirebon Regency. The observed parameters of river water physical quality
include temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and pH. The purpose of this study is to
determine the effect of tofu liquid waste disposal on the physical quality of river water in
Kedung Jaya Village, Cirebon Regency, in 2025. The theoretical benefit of this research is
to broaden knowledge and insight in the field of environmental health development,
particularly in the management of tofu factory liquid waste and river water pollution. This
study was conducted on river water in Kedung Jaya Village, with the population consisting
of the overall river water conditions—upstream, at the waste disposal point, and
downstream—affected by tofu liquid waste. A total of 84 samples were used. The method
applied is a quantitative approach with an analytical observational research design. The
study employed observation sheets and data analysis using Multivariate Analysis of
Variance (MANOVA). The results of the multivariate test on the tofu liquid waste disposal
variable, which includes factors such as factory, waste volume, waste disposal method,
station, time, and weather, showed a significant effect on the physical quality of the river
water in Kedung Jaya Village. Additionally, the MANOVA two-factor interaction results
indicated a significant influence on the physical quality of the river water. Furthermore, the
results of the test of between-subjects effects revealed that the variables of factory, station,
and weather had a significant effect on the physical quality of the river water, with a
significance value of 0.000 < 0.05. The waste disposal variable had a significant effect only
on temperature and pH, while waste volume and time had a significant effect only on TDS
and pH. Moreover, the between-subjects effects test on the two-factor interaction showed
a significance value of 0.000 < 0.05, indicating that there is an interaction effect between
two factors on the physical quality of river water.
Keywords: tofu liquid waste, physical water quality, temperature, TDS, pH,
MANOVA, environmental health
Reference : 26 (2002 – 2023)