J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2017

Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 11, No. 1, p. 266-273, 2017 http://www.innspub.net

RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS

Water quality and risk assessment of tributary rivers in San Fernando,

Van Ryan Kristopher R. Galarpe*1, Kristal Jane L. Heyasa2, Brawner Brian L. Heyasa3

1Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Philippines 2Bachelor of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Northern Philippines, Philippines 3Department of Electronics Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Philippines

Article published on July 30, 2017

Key words: San Fernando, Bukidnon, Tigua river, Salug river, River tributaries, Heavy metals

Abstract Bukidnon, Philippines being identified as an agricultural province needs to ensure water sustainability vital to support its agroeconomy. This study considered Tigua River with three river tributaries and Salug River with single station in San Fernando, Bukidnon. Analysis employed single sampling technique to initially assess river tributaries. Studied water quality parameters were pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidizing redox potential (ORP), turbidity, salinity, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS) using portable pre-calibrated meters. Nitrates were also determined using Bruccine colorimetric method. Analyzed heavy metals in total form were copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) using Flame-Atomic absorption spectrophometry (AAS). Overall, studied river tributaries passed national regulation with risk quotient (RQ) showing no potential pollution. Heavy metals were below detection limit indicating less traceable quantities in river tributaries. Salinity, conductivity, and TDS showed positive correlation. The study was preliminary and further monitoring may be needed. *Corresponding Author: Van Ryan Kristopher R. Galarpe  [email protected]

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Introduction In particular, the munipicality of San Fernando had The province of Bukidnon coined as the watersheds of been studied to have a new species and new records of , Philippines (Broad and Cavanagh, 1988) the genus Doliops Waterhouse, 1841 (Coleoptera: have a total of alienable and disposable land of Cerambycidae) (Barševskis, 2014; Cabras and 336,412 ha (40.56%) while 492,966 ha are forestland. Barševskis, 2016). Similarly, Tigua River had been Covered in these land classification are two major studied to be one of the diverse rivers in Bukidnon river watersheds, namely, Salug and Pulangi with gastropod species (Galan et al., 2015). Despite (Sumbalan et al., 2001). The major river tributary to the existing studies on biodiversity no specific these watersheds are the Tigua River as the water published study dealt on water quality of these river source for Pulangi and the Salug River as the water tributaries. Thus, this study was conducted to provide source for the Salug River watershed and the Davao a preliminary study on river tributary water quality in River on the further south. Both rivers are located in San Fernando, Bukidnon. The objectives were to the munipality of San Fernando, an agricultural and determine selected physicochemical water quality forested area in the province of Bukidnon. paramters, determine its status with reference to standards, and to derive environmental risk As a major tributary of the river watersheds in the assessment (e.g. risk quotient and river comparison). province of Bukidnon, a need to secure its water resources upstream is viewed essential. In the past Materials and methods this municipality had experienced deforestation, Sampling site flashflood, and drought prompting civil groups and The study site consisted of three sub rivers of Tigua river activists to rally for environmental protection and one station in Salug river (Fig. 1-2 & Table 1). The (Bautista, 2001) which were successful as measure of Tigua river is the main river tributary of Pulangi river in conservation efforts. However, no available studies Bukidnon while Salug river is the tributary river of were conductedto evaluate present institutional . Both water bodies were located in San arrangements for sustainable river water quality or Fernando, Bukidnon. The coordinates of the study sites watersheds. were identified using GPS EtREX 20 (Table 1).

Table 1. Description of studied river tributaries in San Fernando, Bukidnon Philippines. River Station Description Specific Locations Barangays Latitude Longitude code adjacent to the river Salug S1 Salug San Jose river stream to San Jose E 125023.743' N 07045.297' Bridge Salug river Tigua T1 Bonacao river stream from Davao Bonacao E 1250 23.854' N 070 47.951' Bridge Region-Bonacao Sto Domingo T2 Supitan intersection of 2 river Namnam E 125022.539' N 07050.331' Bridge 2 streams from Kibungkog Iglugsad and Bonacao T3 Halapitan 6 km from Pulangi river Halapitan E 125019.867' N 070 55.539 outflow

a b Fig. 1. a) Salug river station (S1) and b) the Tigua river tributary station (T1).

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Physicochemical analyses The turbidity meter LaMotte 2020 was used to analyze the turbidity of the water samples. The pH, temperature, conductivity, sanility, TDS, and ORP were analyzed using Oyster meter. The DO of the water samples were analyzed using Acorn Series DO Meter OAKION Manufacturing (code 01X555902). The analyses of Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, and nitrates were conducted in the FAST Laboratories. The Pb in total form was analyzed using 3030 E. Nitric acid digestion/3111 B. Direct air acetylene Flame AAS method. The Cd, Cu, and Cr in total form were analyzed using 3030 F. Nitric acid-hydrochloric acid digestion/3111 B. Direct air-acetylene Flame AAS method, respectively. Nitrates was analyzed using 973.50 Bruccine colorimetric method. All samples Fig. 2. Map of the study site in San Fernando, were analyzed in triplicates. Methods of analyses Bukidnon. Tigua river consisted of three river were adopted from AOAC International (2012) and tributaries connecting towards Pulangi River. Salug APHA-AWWA and WEF (2012). river station outflow towards Davao river. Data Analyses

One Way-ANOVA was employed to compare the Sampling technique physicochemical parameters in all study sites at 0.05 One grab sampling on January 1, 2017 was employed level of significance. The Pearson correlation was in this study. All containers used were polyethylene similarly used to determine association among bottles (PET) prewashed with distilled water three parameters studied. Further, all results were times. Upon sampling the container itself were expressed in terms of mean. To derive an washed three times with the river water prior to environmental risk estimate all results were subjected sample collection and processing in the laboratory. to Risk Quotient (RQ) analysis. The RQ was Surface river waters were taken from four sampling calculated as the ratio between the determined stations approximately 3-5 m from the above ground. concentration and the available standard (GEF/ Collected samples were subjected to lower UNDP/IMO, 2004). The calculated RQ of >1 can temperature, preventing chemical absorption and ion gauge the physiochemical parameter to likely pose interference prior to heavy metal analyses (Galarpe environmental risk. The DAO 35 standard was used and Parilla, 2014). for estimating RQ in river water samples (Table 2).

Table 2. Reference standard in the study. Standard Description Public Water Supply Class I. This class is intended primarily for waters having watersheds DENR/DAO 34 which are uninhabited and otherwise protected and which require only approved Class AA disinfection in order to meet the National Standards for Drinking Water (NSDW) of the Philippines. Public Water Supply Class II. For source of water supply that will require complete DENR/DAO 34 treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection) in order to meet the Class A NSDW. PNSDW (2007) Drinking water guideline

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Results and discussion quality studies in the Philippines (Galarpe and Parilla, Physicochemical analyses 2012; Galarpe and Parilla, 2014; Achas et al., 2016). The overall physicochemical parameters were Nonetheless, these parameters were within the normal relatively comparable. Both temperature (27-28 deg range/standard set. C) and pH ( 6-7) were of the same range.Considerably the DO concentrations were low in stations T2 and Overall trend showed higher turbidity levels among T3, consequently below the DENR Class AA river tributaries adjacent to central district of San standard.Both river tributatries were located adjacent Fernando, specifically T2 and T3. This can be to the populated area in San Fernando, Bukidnon. attributed from dust deposition and anthropogenic Anthropogenic water pollutants in a form of organic runoffs from adjacent communities. Study in the past matter discharges from adjacent community may similarly showed Tigua sub-watershed with the have contributed to lower DO levels (Chapman, highest soil accumulation at 181.25 ton/ha/yr (Marin 1996). The higher conductivity, salinity, and TDS and Jamis, 2016).On the other hand, studied metals concentrations were recorded in T2 and T3 as (Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr) were below the detection limit compared to S1 and T1. Conductivity may indicate whereas nitrates were within the range 0.75-1.66 potential levels of ions in water (Chapman, 1996) and ppm. The nitrates level were higher in S1, site TDS can be associated to carbonates in water samples distinctively sorrounded by agriculutral land (e.g. rice (Pip, 2000). Both inorganic and organic chemical fields and banana). Consequently, nitrogen leaching attributes affecting TDS, salinity, and conductivity from ploughed land area to river catchment may can be induced by anthropogenic discharges from increase nitrate concentration (Neill, 1989; Schilling populated area. Strong associaion of TDS, conductivity, et al., 2000; Boithias et al. 2014). Summary of results and salinity were similarly determined by other water is shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Summary of the physicochemical analyses of tributary river water. River Standard Parameter DENR S1 T 1 T 2 T 3 PNSDW Class AA pH 6.7 6.8 6.7 6.7 6.5-8.5 6.5-8.5 Temp (deg C) 27.2 27.1 27.3 27.6 - - DO (ppm) 9.87 9.45 4.25 3.9 5.0 - ORP(mV) 24 24 22 24.7 - - Conductivity (uS/cm) 179 204 194 205 - - Salinity (ppm) 90 102 98 102 - - TDS (ppm) 121 137 130 136 500 500 Turbidity (ntu) 11.2 1.12 10.4 32.9 - 5 Pb (ppm) <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.01 0.05 Cd (ppm) <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 0.003 0.01 Cu (ppm) <0.03 <0.03 <0.03 <0.03 1.0 1.0 Cr (ppm) <0.03 <0.03 <0.03 <0.03 0.05 - Nitrates (ppm) 1.66 0.97 1.01 0.75 7 50

Statistical comparison ORP, TDS, salinity, conductivity, and turbidity in T2 Overall, studied physicochemical parameters showed and T3. Further, the correlation analysis (see Table 5) significant difference (p <0.05) among river showed strong association among parameters of tributaries (see Table 4). Statistical results using conductivity-salinity (r = 0.99), salinity-TDS (r ANOVA confirmed site specific variation with =0.99), and conductivity-TDS (r =1) in all studied elevated concentrations for pH, temperature, DO, river tributaries (Table 3).

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Present findings were in agreement with the studies Considerably, temperature and turbidity showed of Köse et al. (2014) and Tokatli et al. (2014) on positive correlation (r = 0.98). River tributary with stream waters showing positive correlation higher temperature had higher turbidity, indicating between TDS, conductivity, and salinity. anthropogenic influence to water quality.

Table 4. ANOVA of the physicochemical parameters in river tributaries. Parameter F-value p-value F-critical Decision pH 5.507937 0.023942 4.066181 Significant difference Temp 27.27778 0.000149 4.066181 Significant difference DO 112.4677 7.02E-07 4.066181 Significant difference ORP 6.857143 0.013319 4.066181 Significant difference TDS 456.1349 2.8E-09 4.066181 Significant difference Salinity 733.2046 4.24E-10 4.066181 Significant difference Conductivity 437.416 3.31E-09 4.066181 Significant difference Turbidity 1225.94 5.46E-11 4.066181 Significant difference

Table 5. Correlation coefficient analysis of the physicochemical parameters in river tributaries. Parameters pH Temp DO ORP Conductivity Salinity TDS Turbidity Nitrates pH 1 -0.62 0.53 0.19 0.47 0.47 0.54 -0.63 -0.22 Temp 1 -0.81 0.28 0.36 0.33 0.27 0.98 -0.53 DO 1 0.28 -0.44 -0.47 -0.4 -0.68 0.69 ORP 1 0.23 0.14 0.21 0.43 -0.05 Conductivity 1 0.99 1 0.25 -0.95 Salinity 1 0.99 0.20 -0.96 TDS 1 0.16 -0.93 Turbidity 1 -0.39 Nitrates 1

Risk assessment temperature with RQ =1 were mainly due to lowest The RQ values (Table 6) for all studied river reference standard although the results were tributaries showed no potential risk with reference within the regulations. It can be extrapolated that to DENR Class AA and A water standards, and T1, T2, T3, and S1 had good river water quality PNSDW (2007). The values for pH and during the sampling.

Table 6. RQ of selected physicochemical parameters in studied river tributaries. S1 T 1 T 2 T 3 Parameter AA A PNSDW AA A PNSDW AA A PNSDW AA A PNSDW 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- 1.03- pH 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 1.04- 1.04- 1.03- 1.04- 1.04- 1.03- 1.05- 1.05- 1.03- 1.06- 1.06- 1.03- Temp 0.91 0.91 0.79 0.90 0.90 0.79 0.91 0.91 0.79 0.92 0.92 0.79 TDS 0.24 0.12 0.24 0.14 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.13 0.26 0.27 0.14 0.27 Nitrates 0.23 0.23 0.03 0.14 0.14 0.019 0.14 0.14 0.015 0.11 0.11 0.015

Comparison to Philippine rivers These rivers were adjacent to agricultural lands and Compared parameters were pH, TDS, DO, and located primarily in the same region exhibiting nitrates which were common analyses in studied comparable pH. The TDS were similarly comparable rivers in the Philippines. Distinctively, the pH of S1, to Labo and Clarin Rivers (Labajo-Villantes, 2014) T1, T2, and T3 were relatively comparable to Labo and Mama River (Martinez et al., 2011) which were and Clarin Rivers (Labajo-Villantes, 2014). all located in agricultural areas.

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The DO in T1 and S1 were comparable to Mananga (Martinez et al., 2011) indicating less anthropogenic River (Flores and Zafaralla, 2012), Labo and Clarin impacts. The nitrate levels were comparable to other Rivers (Labajo-Villantes, 2014) and Mama River cited river studies (Table 7).

Table 7. Comparison of selected physicochemical properties of river tributaries. River pH TDS DO Nitrates Reference Tigua River, Bukidnon This study T1 6.7 137 9.45 0.97 T2 6.8 130 4.25 1.01 T3 6.7 136 3.9 0.75 Salug River, Bukidnon S1 6.7 121 9.87 1.66 Butuanon River, Cebu Maglangit et al. (2014) Upstream 7.17 392.67 4.43 2.07 Midstream 7.60 536.67 0.10 0.16 Downstream 7.26 558.83 0.07 0.06 Buhisan River, Cebu 7.2-7.6 - 0.07-4.4 - Maglangit et al. (2015) Bulacao River, Cebu 7.4-8.0 - 2.1-8.1 - Maglangit et al. (2015) Lahug River, Cebu 7.4-7.7 - 0-6.5 - Maglangit et al. (2015) Mananga River, Cebu 8.03-8.76 - 5.45-6.87 2.28-3.15 Flores and Zafaralla (2012) , Pampanga 8.29 - 4.37 5.38 Arbotante et al. (2015) Mamba River, Southern Luzon 8.1 210 6.77 - Martinez et al. (2011) Labo River 6.40 -8.27 27.0 -71.0 2.40-10.60 0.13 - Labajo-Villantes (2014) Clarin River, 3.90-11.20 0.90 Misamis Occidental

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