Risk Assessment on Water Quality of Calinog Creek, Opol, Misamis Oriental

Philippines
Marecris Y. Tatoy

Abstract
This study was carried out to assess and provide baseline data on the water
quality of Calinog Creek, in Opol, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. The water quality of Calinog
Creek in Opol, Misamis Oriental was assessed by conducting the physico-chemical analyses
of water samples e.g. Temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Total dissolved solids (TDS),
turbidity and conductivity. There are three sampling sites were established of the Calinog
creek in Opol Misamis Oriental namely, Zone 3 Taboc besides public market area
(Downstream), Opol Secondary Technical School Senior High School Area (Midstream) and
Zone 5 Tangke area (Upstream). Water sampling was done in situ to determine the quality of
water of Calinog creek in Opol Misamis Oriental. To further improve this study, it is
recommended that there must be a strong participation and coordination of the local
community and various stakeholders to maintain the water quality in Calinog Creek. There
should be a constant monitoring of the physicochemical parameters in future because of the
increase in anthropogenic activities around the area and lastly, include statistical analysis.
Introduction
Calinog Creek in Opol is one of the major creeks in the province of Misamis Oriental
and this creek will serve as an outlet of domestic waste and agricultural waste towards
Macajalar Bay. The creek passes through the Zone 5 Tangke, Zone 4 Vinuhan, and Zone 3
Taboc from its upstream portion south of Macajalar Bay, moving downstream to north of
Macajalar Bay. Due to the anthropogenic activities in the upstream and downstream, Opol
Calinog Creek transformed into sewage and a depot for domestic wastes and agricultural
waste. During past visits to the area, floating garbage and feces were found in the Calinog
creek. As cited by Villantes et al. (2013). Esteros are urban streams or creeks that are
heavily polluted from various human activities (Orozco & Zafaralla, 2012). Waste from
domestic sources, agriculture, commercial establishments and industries alter the
physicochemical parameters of water in major Philippine esteros, that do not meet the
national standards for drinking and for aquaculture (PEMSEA, DENR and LLDA, 2013;
Orozco & Zafaralla, 2012; Gorme, et al., 2010; Rañola & Santiago, 2009).

According to the Opol National Secondary Technical School at Senior High School
Department teachers they said, that the continuous dumping of considerable amount of
wastes from household and commercial establishments can still pose a threat to the water
quality in Calinog creek of Opol despite extensive clean-ups initiated by the academic
community and local government unit. One of the important approaches in assessing the
water quality of Calinog creek in Opol is to determine the physico-chemical analyses. This is
essential in providing information regarding the status of the Calinog creek and with the
growing human population living along esteros or creek.

The study is, therefore, aimed at assessing the risk of the water quality of the Calinog
Creek in Opol Misamis Oriental along Opol National Secondary Technical School through
physico-chemical analyses e. g Temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Total dissolved solids
(TDS), turbidity and conductivity. Furthermore, the following specific objectives are also
proposed: to compare the physico-chemical results of the three established sites in the creek
and to compare the results obtained with the standards set by the DENR and The United
States Environmental Protection Agency.
Materials and Methods

Study Area

There are three sampling sites were established of the Calinog creek in Opol
Misamis Oriental namely, Zone 3 Taboc besides public market area ( Downstream ), Opol
Secondary Technical School Senior High School Area ( MidStream) and Zone 5 Tangke
area ( UpStream ). The locations of these are shown in Figure 1.

Station 1 Besides Public Market Area (Downstream) Station 2 ONSTS-SHS Area ( Midstream )

Station 3 Zone 5 Tangke area ( UpStream )

Physico-chemical Analysis

Each parameter were measured using the different meters; pH,Conductivity and TDS
(Model 341350A, Extech Instruments Corporation., Waltham, MA, USA), Turbidity ( Model
LaMotte 2020we , LaMotte Inc., Maryland, USA, ) and Acorn Series DO6 Meter with Probe
(Model WD-35643-10, OAKTON Instrument Inc., Singapore). The water classification of this
study was based from the study conducted by Enguito and co-authors (2013).

Water sampling was done in situ to determine the quality of water of Calinog creek in
Opol Misamis Oriental. The DO and temperature were measured using Acorn Series DO6
Meter. The use of the electrode probe was material in the process as it senses small electric
currents that are relative to the dissolved oxygen in the water. The Total Dissolved Solids
(TDS),pH and Conductivity were also determined using Extech instruments meter. In Extech
instrument meter, a probe that contains temperature sensor senses the TDS, pH and
conductivity value. It also automatically adjusts the temperature difference. The
measurement is completed after the reading had stabilized.

Results and Discussion

Table 1 Summarizes the results of selected physico-chemical tests.

Parameters Physico-chemical properties of water in three sites and DENR limit for Class C
waters.

Besides Opol Secondary Zone 5

Public Market Technical School Tangke area
Area Senior High Criteria for Class “C”
School Area (UpStream) waters
(DownStream (MidStream) Station 3
) Station 2
Station 1

Temp,0C * 30.3 0 C 30.20C 28.00 C 25-31 0C

Turbidity NTU 5.94 3.98 3.29 Not Specified

Conductivity 14.20 5.94 2.03 Not Specified

TDS 9.51 3.71 12.91 substances are not

considered
necessary

pH 7.03 6.9 6.81 6.0 - 8.5

DO 7.5 7.48 7.49 5 mg L-1

 As defined by Johnson and co-authors (2007), the temperature of a body of water
influences its overall quality. Water temperatures outside the “normal” range for a stream or
river can cause harm to the aquatic organisms that live there. If the water temperature
changes by even a few degrees, it could indicate a source of unnatural warming of the water
or thermal pollution. Thermal pollution caused by human activities is one factor that can
affect water temperature. Table 1 shows the standard values (DENR limit) and the obtained
values of physico-chemical properties of water measured for each sampling site. It was
found out that temperature increased downstream with values (28.0 0C to 30.0 0C) that fall
within the 25 0C to 31 0C DENR standards for Class C waters. This is similar with the water
quality in Carangan Estero in Ozamiz City which conform to DENR standards for
classification Class C waters ( Villantes, et.al. 2012 ).

Turbidity is essentially a measurement of how cloudy or clear the water is, or, in other
words, how easily light can be transmitted through it. As sediments and other suspended
solids increase in the water, the amount of light that can pass through the water decreases.
Thus, the cloudier the water, the greater the turbidity. As algae, sediments, or solid wastes
increase in the water, so does turbidity. Turbidity affects organisms that are directly
dependent on light, like aquatic plants, because it limits their ability to carry out
photosynthesis. This, in turn, affects other organisms that depend on these plants for food
and oxygen ( oceanservice.noaa.gov ).

In this study, turbidity increase in a downstream direction with the value of 5.94 NTU
This increase in turbidity levels are due to the various pollution sources particularly domestic
sources that contributes to water pollution and also it was observed during the sampling in
station 1 there is an open drain serving as an outlet of domestic waste. However, standard
values of turbidity is not specified by the DENR.

The American Water Works Association suggests that a level of 5 NTU or lower is
acceptable for recreation purposes 19. As a state example, the North Carolina code allows
up to 10 NTU for trout waters, 25 NTU for non-trout streams and as high as 50 NTU for non-
trout lakes. Other states have determined allowable fluctuations from an established
baseline. The state of Washington does not have a standard for TSS, but it does for turbidity,
depending on the body of water. In some streams, turbidity cannot increase by more than 5
NTU from the baseline. For others, turbidity may be allowed to fluctuate by up to 20% 6 (
www.fondriest.com)
 In this study the turbidity value in all stations one to three fall within the range of 5
NTU to 5O NTU in the American Water Works Association standards. The study of Lasco
and Espaldon (2005) stated that electrical conductivity (EC) is a relative measure of a
natural body of water’s richness in ionic species. Most streams have a fairly constant range
of conductivity under normal circumstances. Therefore, significant changes in conductivity
can be an indicator that a discharge or some other source of pollution has entered the water.
The composition of the water can be critical for aquatic organisms as well, as many critters
have very specific ranges that they can tolerate ( www.iwinst.org ).

Different parts of the Creek expectedly reflect varied conductivity levels. The
conductivity values recorded in this research ranged from 14.20 Station1, 5.94 Station 2 and
Station 3 2.03. Highest conductivity was measured in the brackish water with the value of
14.20 which is located near public market area and the lowest conductivity recorded is in
station 3. In coastal streams or estuaries, salt water often mixes with fresh water. The
addition of salt water greatly increases conductivity. The addition of fresh water (rain) lowers
conductivity because rainwater has low conductivity and the increase in water levels dilutes
mineral concentrations. Conversely, during low flow conditions (summer and fall) the
dissolved solids are more concentrated and therefore conductivity levels are higher
(www.iwinst.org).

TDS (total dissolved solids) - sum of all inorganic and organic particulate material.
TDS is an indicator test used for wastewater analysis and is also a measure of the mineral
content of bottled water and groundwater (Greenpeace, 2007).The Total Dissolved Solids in
station 3 with the value 12.91 is higher as compared to station 2, with the lowest value 3.71.
The primary sources of TDS in receiving waters are agricultural runoff, leaching of soil
contamination, and point source water pollution from industrial or domestic sewage (EMB,
2006).

The pH of a solution is a measure of how many hydronium ions it has. As cited by

Villantes et al. (2011). The pH value determines the solubility and biological availability of
chemicals in water (Omuku et al., 2012). Living things depend on having a steady pH in their
environment. Organisms that have adapted to water of a specific pH may die if sudden
changes in pH occur. pH changes between 0.2 and 0.3 are already stressful to some
species. Chances of survival diminishes as pH falls below 5 or increases above 9. A pH of
6.5 to 8.2 is ideal for most organisms; the optimal range for most tropical fishes is 6.5 – 8.5
(DENR-EMB, 2008).
If the water in a stream is too acidic or basic, the H+ or OH- ion activity may disrupt the
biochemical reactions of aquatic organisms by either harming or killing the stream organisms
(DENR-EMB, 2008). In this study the pH value in all stations one to three fall within the
range of 6.0 to 8.5 for Class C waters.
Adequate dissolved oxygen is necessary for good water quality. Oxygen is a
necessary element to all forms of life. Natural stream purification processes require
adequate oxygen levels in order to provide for aerobic life forms. As dissolved oxygen levels
in water drop below 5.0 mg/l, aquatic life is put under stress. The lower the concentration,
the greater the stress. (www. lenntech.com) In this study, DO decreased in a downstream
direction. The lowest DO reading of 7.5 mg/ L in Station 1. This decrease in DO levels are
due to the various pollution sources particularly domestic sources that contributes to water
pollution. However, such values still conform to the minimum guideline value set for Class
“C” Waters of 5mg/L. Since DO levels conform to DENR standards, it does not likely pose
risk to the environment.

Conclusion
In conclusion, a critical look at the physico-chemical parameters of the water samples
from all the stations in Calinog Creek and DENR-EMB and USEPA standard indicate that the
water sample falls within the acceptable standards for Class “C” Waters.

Recommendations
To further improve this study, it is recommended that a similar study be conducted in
the different seasons of the year. There must be a strong participation and coordination of
the local community and various stakeholders to maintain the water quality in Calinog Creek.
There should be a constant monitoring of the physicochemical parameters in future because
of the increase in anthropogenic activities around the area and lastly, include statistical
analysis.
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