The Abra River System (Benguet – Ilocos Sur – Abra): Water Quality Monitoring
October 23rd, 2005
By Josephine Aries L. Dulay, MS En E* Department of Chemical Engineering Saint Louis University College of Engineering and Architecture
The rapidly growing population, increasing urbanization and advancing technology contributed much to the pollution we are now exposed to. Human activities overloaded the amount of materials and changed the nature of contaminants entering into rivers, streams and lakes that have natural mechanism of self-purification. Thus the assimilating and sustaining capacity of rivers today show signs of stressful conditions. The growing environmental concern led to the investigation of the condition of the Abra River System flowing from the provinces of Benguet, Abra and Ilocos Sur and exiting to the South China Sea.
Samples were collected from the different sampling stations that were identified. On-site water quality parameters: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and conductivity were measured using Troll 9000 Profiler. Other parameters such as width, depth and surface velocity of water in the river were also measured. APHA’s Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater was used in the physical and chemical characterization of the water samples. The parameters included the biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, dissolved solids, total solids, cyanide, calcium, iron and some heavy metals such as lead, chromium, mercury and copper.
From the river’s profile and the physical and chemical analyses, the river’s capability to receive and assimilate waste discharges and later (natural self-purification) after receiving such waste discharges is assessed. The river is classified according to the Philippine law and allowable utilization of the river is recommended. Furthermore, environmental factors affecting the river’s quality are discussed and recommending strategies preventing the river’s water degradation or averting further deterioration.
[download the full paper [PDF] here] OR [view presentation online]
*Engineer Dulay may be reached at ariesdulay@yahoo.com; cc: abrariver@4d.net
Entry Filed under: Features
1 Comment Add your own
1. Anonymous | October 26th, 2005 at 10:20 am
Gargantuan monster during the rainy seasons, a dying during the dry months…tsk tsk tsk, nakaay-ay-ay…
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