Electrocoagulation-Assisted Improvement of Pond Water Quality: A Preliminary Evaluation of Physicochemical Characteristics

Abstract

Pond water quality is a critical factor affecting aquatic ecosystem health and aquaculture productivity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of electrocoagulation (EC) using a six-electrode cylindrical aluminum reactor for improving the quality of pond water collected from a fish pond at SMKN 2 Metro, Indonesia. A 500 mL water sample was treated at 15 V for 20 min, followed by filtration. Physicochemical parameters, including color, odor, appearance, temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen (DO), were measured before and after treatment. The results demonstrated substantial improvements in water quality following EC. The water changed from a turbid greenish-yellow appearance to a transparent condition with visible floc formation and sedimentation, while odor was completely eliminated. Temperature and pH decreased slightly from 27.9 to 26.0 °C and from 7.73 to 7.51, respectively, whereas salinity remained unchanged at 0.09 ppt. The most significant improvement was observed in DO concentration, which increased from 1.7 to 5.3 mg/L (211.8%). The findings demonstrate that electrocoagulation is a rapid, environmentally friendly, and effective approach for improving pond water quality and enhancing oxygen availability, highlighting its potential application in small-scale aquaculture systems.