Kay Mark L. Lamasan, Melviun T. Purzuelo Jr., Li Arolf R. Rey (March 2012)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Banate Bay is a half-moon shaped bay located in the southeastern part of Panay Island in central Philippines. The bay is one of the richest fishing ground in the island; the Banate Bay Management and Resource Center regularly monitors the water quality of the bay. However, the Center has no information which among the14 river estuaries greatly affects the water quality of the bay.
The purpose of this study was to determine the water quality in terms of physical properties of the discharged water from the three major river estuaries namely Guintas, Tinorian, and Talokgangan, into the bay, which includes: pH, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), temperature, conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and salinity. Sampling was conducted during the rainy season from May to November 2011 every 14 days during the transition from high to low tide.
The water quality properties of the water discharges of the 3 rivers have greater values comnpared to the water quality properties of the Banate bay. The pH is basic, ranging from 6.8 to 8.8, with a mean of 7.8. The TSS ranges from 0.2 to 0.54 g/L. The temperature has a mean value of 29.3 degrees Celsius, with a lowest and highest recorded temperature of 26 degrees Celsius 32.5 degrees Celsius respectively. The salinity ranges from 2.1 to 27.5 ppt, the conductivity ranges from 4.5 to 45.8 uS/cm, the TDS ranges from 1.991 to 21.4 g/L respectively.
The water discharged by the 3 major rivers is alkaline, high in suspended and dissolved solids resulting to high conductivity and salinity, bracklish. The quality of the water discharges can be attributed to excessive oyster farming, changes in salinity, sedmentation, siltation and unsanitary human waste disposal.