Assessing Surface Water Quality: Physico-Chem...

Assessing Surface Water Quality: Physico-Chemical Properties of The Pandurucan River, San Jose, Mindoro Philippines

Author Name : Norma B. Muyot, ChE, EdD

ABSTRACT

Pandurucan river is one of the 11 rivers traversing the Municipality of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines,  and has been showing signs of pollution. The purpose of this study was to provide baseline data on the physic-chemical properties of the Pandurucan river. Five sampling sites were selected and GPS coordinatestaken so that the subsequent sampling might be done at the same exact spot of the river. Water samples were taken every month from February to June 2018 and were subjected to analysis as follows: TDS, pH and temperature were taken in situ using the multi-probe Thermo Orion 5-star freshwater kit. Other water quality indicators were analyzed through the following methods: Dissolved Oxygen (DO)  using the Winkler azide method, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) using the Winkler azide dilution method, TSS using gravimetric method following the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.  Results indicate that theaverage pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, and total suspended solids of the Pandurucan River were within the threshold limits for these waterquality parameters for type D waters set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Assessment of the water quality based on the physic-chemical analyses depicts that Pandurucan River has been receiving organic pollution. The elevated levels of BOD exceeding the allowable units of from 10-15 mg/L based on class D water is a significant indication ofinput of organic pollution. The dissolved oxygen (DO) of the river failed to meet the DENR standards for these water quality indicators due to the presence of organic matter indicating pollution of the river and its  subsequent inability to sustain aquatic life in the future.

Keywords: assessment of river quality, physico-chemical analysis of water