As part of its bi-annual monitoring and assessment of river quality in Palawan, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff ECAN Monitoring and Evaluation Division (EMED) is currently collecting water samples of rivers located in Southern Palawan for purposes of water-content monitoring and evaluation.
The water quality monitoring seeks to determine the levels of sedimentations, pathogens, and organic matter in the water bodies which will be studied and analyzed at the PCSDS Environmental Laboratory.
Kicking off yesterday, February 6, the PCSD Staff already collected water samples of Berong River, Ibat-Ong River, and Panitian River, all located in Quezon municipality. They have also visited Pulot Dam in Sofronio Espanola municipality; and Sabsaban Falls and Tamlang Dam in Brooke’s Point municipality for the same purpose.
The water samples will be analyzed based on pH level, Color, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolved Oxygen, Fecal Coliform, Oil and Grease, Settleable Solids, Nitrates, and Phosphates.
The bi-annual river quality monitoring activity will help observe changes in the status and condition of the river quality, and establish trends so as to avert harmful bacteria or pathogens from flourishing which may otherwise cause contamination and harm to humans, among others.
The water quality monitoring is part of the activities under the ECAN Monitoring and Evaluation System (EMES), which is a support mechanism in the implementation of the SEP for Palawan. Among its mandates, EMES assesses changes in ecosystem condition.
The result of the aforementioned water-monitoring will be furnished to the local government units. It is also published in the ‘State of Environment of Palawan’ report, which is published every five years.
The PCSDS EMED water-quality monitoring in Southern Palawan is expected to be finished tomorrow, February 8.