Characterization of a river at risk: the case of Sapangdaku River in Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines

Joje Mar P. Sanchez; Marchee T. Picardal; Marnan T. Libres; Hedeliza A. Pineda; Ma. Lourdes B. Paloma; Judelynn M. Librinca; Reginald Raymund A. Caturza; Sherry P. Ramayla; Ruby L. Armada; Jay P. Picardal; Joje Mar P. Sanchez; Marchee T. Picardal; Marnan T. Libres; Hedeliza A. Pineda; Ma. Lourdes B. Paloma; Judelynn M. Librinca; Reginald Raymund A. Caturza; Sherry P. Ramayla; Ruby L. Armada; Jay P. Picardal

doi:10.3934/environsci.2020035

AIMS Environmental Science

2020, Volume 7, Issue 6: 559-574. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2020035

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Research article

Characterization of a river at risk: the case of Sapangdaku River in Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines

1.
Science Education Department, College of Teacher Education, Cebu Normal University, Cebu City, Philippines
2.
Chemistry Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Velez College, Cebu City, Philippines
3.
College of Arts and Sciences, Cebu Technological University-Main Campus, Cebu City, Philippines
4.
College of Arts and Sciences, Palompon Institute of Technology, Leyte, Philippines
5.
Senior High School Department, Labogon National High School, Mandaue City, Philippines
6.
Philippine Science High School-Central Visayas Campus, Argao, Philippines
7.
Senior High School Department, Mactan National High School, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
8.
Research Institute of Tropical Biology & Pharmacological Biotechnology, Cebu Normal University, Cebu City, Philippines

Received: 06 August 2020 Accepted: 10 December 2020 Published: 17 December 2020

Sapangdaku River in Toledo City, Cebu is a freshwater source found near a copper mine operating for more than 50 years. The river has been one of the major rivers identified by the Environmental Management Bureau to be at risk, that needs monitoring and more empirical studies. This paper assessed the water quality of the Sapangdaku River through physicochemical, metal, and microbial analyses. Five (5) samples were collected from the downstream, midstream, and upstream sites, and were immediately tested in a water laboratory. Findings revealed that the pH, DO, BOD and COD registered within the acceptable range. Conductivity, turbidity, TDS, and TSS have fluctuating results where the midstream area recorded the highest measurement for the first three and upstream for the latter. Hg and Pb are present in little amounts while Cu in high concentrations. Total coliform counts are low in midstream and upstream while fecal coliform counts are high in all sites. Higher conductivity, higher turbidity, slower flow rate, and cooler condition in the midstream, as well as the presence of more pathogenic bacteria and Cu across sites, indicate poor water quality. Though there is poor quality, the DO, BOD, and COD levels of the river show promising results that aquatic life can still thrive. Educating communities, decreasing means of erosion, and establishing strict policies and ordinances on the use of river resources are recommended.
- Sapangdaku River,
- physicochemical assessment,
- metals,
- coliform,
- river rehabilitation
Citation: Joje Mar P. Sanchez, Marchee T. Picardal, Marnan T. Libres, Hedeliza A. Pineda, Ma. Lourdes B. Paloma, Judelynn M. Librinca, Reginald Raymund A. Caturza, Sherry P. Ramayla, Ruby L. Armada, Jay P. Picardal. Characterization of a river at risk: the case of Sapangdaku River in Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2020, 7(6): 559-574. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2020035

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Abstract

Sapangdaku River in Toledo City, Cebu is a freshwater source found near a copper mine operating for more than 50 years. The river has been one of the major rivers identified by the Environmental Management Bureau to be at risk, that needs monitoring and more empirical studies. This paper assessed the water quality of the Sapangdaku River through physicochemical, metal, and microbial analyses. Five (5) samples were collected from the downstream, midstream, and upstream sites, and were immediately tested in a water laboratory. Findings revealed that the pH, DO, BOD and COD registered within the acceptable range. Conductivity, turbidity, TDS, and TSS have fluctuating results where the midstream area recorded the highest measurement for the first three and upstream for the latter. Hg and Pb are present in little amounts while Cu in high concentrations. Total coliform counts are low in midstream and upstream while fecal coliform counts are high in all sites. Higher conductivity, higher turbidity, slower flow rate, and cooler condition in the midstream, as well as the presence of more pathogenic bacteria and Cu across sites, indicate poor water quality. Though there is poor quality, the DO, BOD, and COD levels of the river show promising results that aquatic life can still thrive. Educating communities, decreasing means of erosion, and establishing strict policies and ordinances on the use of river resources are recommended.

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