Maria Lourdes A. Abucay, Ana Melina A. Manuel, Teddy Tan Jr. (March 2002)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
There is a need for water quality assessment of the different bodies of water here in the Philippines, just like the Iloilo River. This research was conducted to test the quality of the waters of the Iloilo River and determine if it has passed the DENR standards for Class C Waters and if it is suitable for human recreational and industrial use; and also for the growth of aquatic life, in terms of five parameters, which are, pH, dissolved oxygen content, salinity, conductivity and temperature.
Salinity, conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen level was tested on-site, while the pH testing was done at the PSHS-WVC Laboratory. The testing was done on two different dates and times, January 18, 2002, at around 3 in the afternoon, and January 23, 2002, at around 5 in the afternoon.
Results showed that the waters of the Iloilo River passed the DENR standards set for Class C Waters, in terms of pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen level (DO), at the time that these parameters were measured. Salinity and conductivity are not included in the required parameters for Class C Waters.
Since the pH level, temperature and DO level of the different sites are neither too high nor too low, it is concluded that the waters of the Iloilo River are safe for aquatic life and human recreational and industrial use, in terms of these three parameters.