Water Assessment of Dolores River in Mabalacat, Pampanga 1
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
Rivers are very important water resources for our community. It has different
significant values to different people. Some communities rely on it and use it for many
purposes. Rivers are generally used for Agricultural (irrigation) and Industrial purposes
for the livelihood, and domestic purposes for food source and residential water supply of
the communities along the river. With that, it could be said that their livability depends
on it.
However, with the urbanization of the world nowadays and the rise in industrial
works, rivers are slowly degrading especially its water content. According to the case
study of (Hari Srinivas, 2016), Rivers are being polluted by solid wastes, chemical waste,
graywater and sewage caused by household, trade and industrial activities. These may
affect the quality of water and create a negative impact with its uses as residential water
source and food source. (Rinkesh, 2020) said that the most basic effect of water pollution
is directly suffered by the organisms and vegetation that survive in water and indirectly
on a human level, would cause people to be badly affected due to consumption or usage
of it.
There are several river studies which were conducted by different researchers. A
research on Siluko River in Southern Nigeria was made by (Agbala, 2017) and he was
able to conclude that its water is suitable for drinking and domestic usage. He also
recommended for the regulating authorities to monitor the effluents discharged into the
river from human activities. (Arbotante et al., 2015) were able to determine in their
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Water Assessment of Dolores River in Mabalacat, Pampanga 2
research of Pampanga River in Candaba, that the ammonia and phosphate concentration
of its water content exceeded the maximum value required by the DAO 34 – Water
Quality Standard for Class C Water. (Al-Badaii et al., 2013) conducted a research on the
Semenyih River in Malaysia. They were able to point out that the deterioration in the
river were associated with industrial and agricultural activities, livestock farming, and
erosion. They were able to conclude that the river is usable for irrigation but extensive
treatment should be done if it would be use for domestic purposes. On the research of
(Aragoncillo et al., 2011) in Sapang Baho River, Rizal, they were able to identify that
there is an input of organic pollution both from domestic solid and liquid wastes on its
water and recommended a clean-up and rehabilitation of the Sapang Baho River.
Inspired by the different literature and researches cited above, this study aims to
identify physico-chemical characteristics of Dolores River in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
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Water Assessment of Dolores River in Mabalacat, Pampanga 3
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Water Assessment of Dolores River in Mabalacat, Pampanga 4
Conceptual Framework
This is the representation of the study on how the researcher would assess the
water quality of Dolores River by its physico-chemical characateristics specifically the
pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate content.
Dissolved
pH Oxygen
Temperature Water Quality Ammonia
Nitrate Phosphate
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Statement of the Problem
The researchers made some pre-survey regarding the Dolores River. They found
out that the water of the river is being used for irrigation purposes and some locals who
live along the area are fishing for food. Hence, the researchers would like to assess the
quality of water in Dolores River in order to determine its classification and ensure if it is
really usable for irrigation, fisheries and also for domestic use and inform the people
regarding it. The study aims to answer this question:
1. What are the physico-chemical characteristics of Dolores River?
1.1. pH
1.2. Dissolved oxygen
1.3. Temperature
1.4. Ammonia
1.5. Nitrate
1.6. Phospate
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Significance of the Study
This research would like to assess the water quality of Dolores River in order to
inform the people regarding its usability for agricultural and industrial use, fishery, and
domestic use benefiting the following group of people:
The Locals of Poblacion who lives along the river will be the ones who would
benefit the most from it because this study would inform them if the river is really usable
for their houshold activities as well as agricultural activies.
The Government of Mabalacat would be able to make the necessary and
appropriate actions once informed if the Dolores River is still usable for many purposes
or make an action to stop using it if it is not usable anymore.
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Scope and Delimitation
The study entitled, “Water Assessment of Dolores River in Mabalacat
Pampanga,” will assess the water quality of Dolores River in Mabalacat Pampanga to
inform and benefit the communities who relies on it. It will only focus on assessing the
given physico-chemical parameter of the river: ph, dissolved oxygen, temperature,
ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate. This study only covers the Dolores River in Mabalacat,
Pampanga along the vicinity of Poblacion.
Definition of Terms
Traffic – (Conceptual Definition) Vehicles moving on a road or public highway.
– (Operational Definition) The traffic will become the reference of the
respondents regarding the evaluation of the traffic barriers.
Traffic Congestion – (Conceptual Definition) Vehicles moving on a road or public
highway.
– (Operational Definition) The traffic will become the reference of the
respondents regarding the evaluation of the traffic barriers.
Conceptual Definition – A condition on road networks that occurs as use
increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased
vehicular queuing
Operational Definition- The increase and decrease in traffic congestion will
become the point of evaluation for the effectiveness of the traffic barriers.
Traffic Barriers
Conceptual Definition – Barriers which are placed in the middle of a road or
public highway separating 2 lanes of opposite direction which is for safety
purpose and reduction of traffic congestion
Operational Definition- The traffic barriers will be used as the object of
evaluation for the development of good road traffic.
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