HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

Holy Angel University

School of Engineering and Architecture
First Semester AY. 2021 - 2022

A CASE STUDY OF THE WATER QUALITY IN PAMPANGA RIVER

ALONG BARANGAY BUAS IN CANDABA, PAMPANGA

Submitted by:

AYSON, Sonny

MACARAEG, Caesar Ian

RAZALAN, Dianalyn

SANTOS, Chin Kei

VINOYA, Annsherina

Submitted to:

Mr. Edward Lacson

Professor

Section:

AE – 205

Date:

March 4, 2022
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I. Company / Case Background

Pampanga river (also known as Great River of Pampanga) is the

second largest river in Luzon. The length of this river is about 260

kilometers, in addition the river's basin is 10,540 km which includes the

2

Guagua River's associated basin. The Pampanga River, which runs

through the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija, is essential

to local aquaculture. Near the 264-kilometer-long river, the Department of

the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local governments

discovered that 49,179 residences, 7,020 commercial establishments, and

102 industries lack adequate treatment facilities and waste collecting.

Garbage, untreated sewage, and other contaminants are threatening the

Pampanga River. According to study conducted by UP Diliman graduate

students, contaminants of rising concern have been discovered in the

Pampanga River basin. 

The study aims is to develop an information framework that will

identify the concentration and distribution of increasing pollution in the

Pampanga River Basin. According to Sunstar (2017), over 90% of

Pampanga's fisheries originate from aquaculture, which involves fishing

across the Pampanga River, accounting for roughly 4% of the country's

fisheries production and more than 60% of Central Luzon. The purpose of

this study is to provide solutions that can lessen or prevent emerging

pollution in the Pampanga River. 

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II. Case Proper

Pampanga River spans a distance of 260km across the central

portion of Luzon. Refering from the Figure 1, shows the scale of Pampanga

River crossing various provinces in central Luzon spanning across Nueva

Ecija, Pampanga and Bulacan while Figure 2 specifically maps the network

of Pampanga river down to smaller streams of water channels. (Arbotante

et al.,2015)

Figure 1.
Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-the-Pampanga-River-Basin-and-the-
sampling-sites-along-the-Pampanga-River_fig1_324578234 [accessed 4 Mar, 2022]
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Figure 2.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-the-Pampanga-River-Basin-and-the-sampling-sites-along-the-
Pampanga-River_fig1_324578234

In reference from Figure 2, it is noticeable that the river has

small branches of water channels that empty to the town of Candaba. For

that reason, as provided from the main reference material used for this

study, the sampling location revolves within the vicinity of Candaba,

particularly, the Baranggay of Buas which is directly connected to one side

of the river with houses built along the river bank as shown from the Figure

3 below. (Arbotante et al.,2015)

Figure 3.
Sourced from: Water Quality in
Pampanga River Along
Barangay Buas in Candaba,
Pampanga (DLSU Research
Congress 2015)
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To further set an understanding about the relevance of this study, it

is vital to have those aforementioned geographical details laid out firsthand.

With respect to the geographical location of Pampanga River, it is found to

be a very essential source of water irrigation which supply and support

about 363,246 hectares of farmlands in the provinces of Nueva Ecija,

Pampanga, and Bulacan as previously illustrated from Figure 3. (Arbotante

et al.,2015)

Considering the fact that Pampanga River encompasses a huge role

of supplying water to such a wide network of agricultural stocks of

farmlands, it would be logical enough to state how more than significant it is

to conduct studies about the water quality particularly physico-chemical

characteristics of Pampanga River along Barangay Buas, Candaba.

Relative to this matter, comes the main issue and problem of the

Pampanga River which as stated from the provided literature reference

entitled “Water Quality in Pampanga River Along Barangay Buas in

Candaba, Pampanga” conducted by Arbotante et al. (2015) in which

pertains to the pollution of the water of Pampanga River incurred from

various contributing polluting factors.

Figure 4 shows the statistical data result of physico chemical

parameters measured from Pampanga river taken from three selected sites

4.00 meters away from the river bank. The three sites were indicated to be

situated at an area where the river enters the barangay (S1), at the mid

point of the river’s trajectory beside the barangay (S2), and at an area
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where water flows away from the river adjoining the barangay (S3). The

samples were specifically analyzed for pH, dissolved oxygen DO,

temperature, nitrates, ammonia, and phosphates on site as indicators that

would help identify the condition of water quality of Pampanga river along

Barangay Buas, Candaba. (Arbotante et al.,2015)

Figure 4.
Sourced from: Water Quality in Pampanga River Along Barangay Buas in Candaba, Pampanga (DLSU
Research Congress 2015)

Despite having three trials done for every parameter tested, the data

results yields no significant variation in the measured parameters from the

three separate sampling days, as well as from the time differentiated

samples of the same day as stated to be collected and tested three times in

October and November around the time of 10:00 am and at 3:00 pm as

indicated from the cited literature.

To simplify Figure 4, refer to Figure 5 below which presents the

average physico-chemical parameters of Pampanga river along Barangay

Buas, Candaba. (Arbotante et al.,2015)

Figure 5.
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Sourced from: Water Quality in Pampanga River Along Barangay Buas in Candaba, Pampanga (DLSU Research
Congress 2015)

Figure 5 summarizes the results into a simpler comprehensible data.

As previously mentioned and elaborated, The samples were specifically

analyzed for pH, dissolved oxygen DO, temperature, nitrates, ammonia,

and phosphates on site as indicators that would help identify the condition

of water quality. In this case, results can be discussed as follows.

The average pH level of the water is at the basic weak level of 8.29

which is typical typical for hard water. Hardness of water simply pertains to

the amount of calcium and magnesium it contains. Higher levels of these

and other minerals make water hard. Thus, Pampanga river falls under that

category and should have the appropriate pH level as indicated from figure

6 below.
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Figure 6.
Sourced from: https://opentextbc.ca/ingredients/chapter/water-hardness-and-ph/

However, as indicated from the cited literature of Arbotante et al.,

there are said to be some portions of the river that exceeded the DAO-

Water Quality Criteria for class C water (fishery water, recreational water,

and industrial water supply) and the EPA/WHO standards as indicated from

figure 7 and 8 below.

Figure 7. DAO-Water Quality Criteria.

Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Effluent-Quality-Standards-for-Class-C-Inland-
Waters_tbl1_331228268 [accessed 4 Mar, 2022]

Figure 8. EPA/WHO standards.

Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Water-quality-standards-of-surface-
water_tbl2_343517673 [accessed 4 Mar, 2022]

As indicated, the acceptable and safe pH is roughly around 6.5-8.5.

Outside this range, water productivity becomes increasingly limited

(Arbotante et al.,2015)
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As per DO or Dissolved Oxygen, the mean concentration is found to

be low with 4.37 mg/L, thus, suggesting less than ideal water quality of

5mg/L which can also be referred from Figure 8. The implications of having

low concentration of DO compromises aquatic fauna affecting the aquatic

animals due to their dependency on oxygen, although as indicated from the

study of Arbotante et al., there were no recorded incident of fish kill in

Pampanga river in relations of extremely low DO levels raising no concern

at the time being.

For nitrates, it did not exceed the maximum value of 10.00 mg/L for

Class C water of DAO Water Quality Standard (Referring from Figure 8)

however, as per the case of ammonia, mean concentration of ammonia

(0.321 mg/L) exceeded both the O.2 mg/L set by the Canadian

Environmental Studies Board (1972) and the 0.1 mg/L US Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) levels that indicate polluted water in rivers as

indicated respectively from Figure 9 and 10 below.

Figure 9.
Sourced from Canadian
Environmental
Protection Act, 1999.
Ammonia in the
Aquatic Environment
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Figure 10.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Drinking-water-standards-and-unit-weights_tbl1_250389538
[accessed 4 Mar, 2022]

For Phosphates, referring from Figure 8 of DAO 34 - Water Quality,

it exceeded the maximum tolerable amount for river water of 0.4 mg/L

having 0.737 mg/L. Evidences of high concentration of ammonia and

phospates was claimed to be due to anthropogenic activities of the

barangay alongside the river (Arbotante et al.,2015). The anthropogenic

activities can pertain to certain industrial activities such as mining, release

of industrial waste, smelting of As ore, incineration of fossil fuel, particularly

coal, utilization of As-loaded water for irrigation, and As-based pesticides,

herbicides, and fertilizers (Karimi et al., 2009).

Not far from that hypothesis is the actual observation of canals and

drainages that were seen to be directed into the river. It would rather not be

impossible to assume that human and animal wastes, domestic waste

water with detergents, soaps, and other cleaning reagents are contributory

factors to the high concentration of ammonia and phosphates along the

river. (Arbotante et al.,2015)

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From the garnered results of sampling data conducted by Arbotante

et al.,2015, high concentrations of ammonia and phosphates and low

concentration of dissolved oxygen along the river adjoining Barangay Buas,

Candaba suggests poor water quality and besides, can be therefore

classified as polluted.

III. Case Analysis

a. Significant Case Facts (Data related to problem)

According to Pena (2021), Asian rivers contribute an estimated 81

percent of ocean plastics, with the Philippines accounting for more than

one-third (36%) of the world total. Despite their large land area and

population, India provides just 13% while China contributes 7%. This is

quite concerning. We're the worst polluters of the ocean? The Department

of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has yet to issue a

statement on the matter. If the statistics is true, the Philippines is

responsible for seven of the top 10 polluted rivers. Pasig River is the most

polluting river in the world, accounting for 6.43 percent of all plastic

pollution in the ocean. The Pampanga River is ranked sixth on the list!

The Upper Pampanga River Basin (UPRB) is one of the Philippines'

largest river basins. This basin provides ample water supplies for a large

population, increasing businesses, and agriculture. Agriculture production

in Central Luzon's vast fertile Riceland. In the meantime, Water resources

are still plentiful; nevertheless, there is an urgent need to safeguard and

manage them for the future generations. Furthermore, there is no

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coordinating organization to impact total water management necessitates

research into the UPRB. The Upper Pampanga River (UPRB) water quality

was classified as Class A, while in the Lower Pampanga River water quality

was under Class C. Class A water is suited for municipal water supply and

must be fully treated (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and

disinfection), whereas Class C water is acceptable for irrigation.

Unfortunately, no data on the chemical, physical, and biological

characteristics of the Pampanga River's water are available. Groundwater

in the UPRB, on the other hand, has not been harmed in terms of volume

or quality. Groundwater extracted from deeper aquifers has been the only

source of municipal water supply in UPRB population areas like as

Cabanatuan, San Jose, and Munoz Science City (Angeles, et al., 2016).

b. Problems

Substandard Sewage Disposal System

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

discovered that 56,000 household and commercial centres’ lack actual and

effective wastewater management and treatment procedure which causes

the contamination of the Pampanga River which clears out to Manila Bay

(Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2019). In a study conducted by Arbotante et al.

(2015), concerning the water quality in Pampanga River along Barangay

Buas in Candaba, Pampanga, they found out that the river is polluted by

domestic waste, even human and animal waste. Residential houses are

built along the river and smaller housing accommodation have substandard

sewage disposal system or septic tanks to filter waste and their sewages
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are connected straight to the river which means that regular waste from the

Barangay is being channelled off straight into the river. Despite having

sewages connected right into it, residents of the area continue to fish in the

river.

Garbage Pollution

The Pampanga River, together with Candaba Swamp, was featured

by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on

February 2 during the World Wetlands Day commemoration. In addition,

the Pampanga River is one of 17 major rivers being considered for

substantial cleanup as part of the ambitious Manila Bay restoration

initiative, a P47 billion, seven-year operation to safeguard the country's

historic bay from environmental deterioration.

Pampanga river which is one of the largest river in the Philippines is

experiencing a pollution from garbage, untreated waste water, and other

pollutants endangering the river. The river's predicament is similar to that of

other rivers in the nation. Fortunately, the river is still in good enough shape

to perform vital ecological services that other rivers cannot (Mayuga, 2019).

c. Alternative Courses of Action

1. Establish a proper sewage disposal complex to ensure the water

of the Pampanga River in the average level of pH.

2. Reinforce the public, especially those who lives near the

Pampanga river to create a proper waste management to lessen

the garbage pollution that the river has.

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3. Implement a program that prohibits improper waste management

of the whole community, such that a fine will be imposed on

those who violated the program.

4. Weekly garbage truck collection(preferably 2-3 times a week)

d. Analysis of ACA’s

1. Advantage: A good way to ensure the cleanliness and proper level of

the water in Pampanga river may require a better sewage disposal

complex. Due to direct drainages brought by the people living near the

Pampanga river, as well as some factories who are a big factor of

wastewater that flows into the river which gives a negative effect to it,

we need to ensure a better way to lessen and prevent the effects that

the river is taking. To be able to do that, high polluted water needs to be

prioritized in different complexes so that the river water may be safe

from it. Likewise to the wastewaters, it is better to manage it first before

releasing it to the river. With that, they can possibly maintain the

average pH level of the Pampanga river, where the water is clean and

beneficial to the people.

Disadvantage: It requires authority including time and funds to

establish a better sewage complex for the Pampanga river. Hence, it

can last long and make a better change in the flowing water of the

Pampanga river.

2. Advantage: People residing near the Pampanga river have a

connected drainage directly to it, hence, people still fishing in the same
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river that is polluted with garbage, chemical toxins, and other forms of

matter that can harm the water in the river. By encouraging the

community rules to have a better waste management, it may be

accomodating not only to them, but also to the people who visit their

community as well as the places where Pampanga river is connected.

This may be helpful also for the safeness of the water in Pampanga

river, to make it more clean and free from garbage pollution.

Disadvantage: It is not an easy work to accomplish, and it requires the

time and effort of every individuals who can be useful to execute the

plan and to sustain it accordingly.

3. Advantages: The government especially the barangay beside the

Pampanga River must cope up with a solution of proper sewage for the

near households in order to ensure the proper sewage system that will

not affect the Pampanga River's water quality. A program will oblige the

community to follow the system and prevent the baranggay’s waste

from channeling off the river.

Disadvantage: It takes many trial in order for the government to pass

the project/program. Also, the budget cost will be hard for the

government to collect especially it will take a big budget cost for the

proper sewage system of the households.

4. Advantages: Weekly collection of garbage will minimize the unwanted

waste produced by the individuals which may help reduce the garbage
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being dumped in the river. Through decreased excess waste in the

river, rehabilitation will be made easier.

Disadvantage: Imposing garbage collection more than once a week is

feasible and inexpensive, however, this still depends on the discipline of

the people in the community if whether or not they choose to dump their

garbage in the river despite the regular garbage collection.

e. Recommendation (chosen ACA/’s justify)

The student researchers recommend both first and second ACAs to be

implemented in the said problem since both of them are beneficial to the

environment and the health of its people. The first two provide not only a

temporary solution but an action that will possibly last and a more realistic

approach. First, regarding the establishment of a better sewage complex, it

may be expensive, but the community will soon reap its benefits and even

provide income opportunities from it. As soon as clean water is maintained

through the system, the marine habitat will flourish and will be of help to

fishermen. If the province allocates budget for this, then it should be their

priority course of action, however, if budget constraints are present, the

second course of action will be recommended because, in comparison to the

first course of action, this is less expensive but rather requires the

community’s discipline and coordination with the officials in charge. Overall,

both ACAs are feasible but both requires willingness, cooperation and

discipline from officials and the community individuals.

NAME SCORE

AYSON, Sonny 10
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MACARAEG, Caesar Ian 10

RAZALAN, Dianalyn 10

SANTOS, Chin Kei 10

VINOYA, Annsherina 10

RATINGS:

REFERENCES:
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Amist, N., & Singh, N. (2021). Metalloid transporters and channels in

plants. Metal and Nutrient Transporters in Abiotic Stress, 213–236.

https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-817955-0.00011-9

Inquirer, P. D. (2019, February 21). Pampanga River polluters: 56,000

houses, firms. INQUIRER.Net.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1088261/pampanga-river-polluters-

56000-houses-firms

Mayuga, J. L. (2019, February 17). A healthy river is a wealthy river |

Jonathan L. Mayuga. BusinessMirror.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/02/18/a-healthy-river-is-a-

wealthy-river/#:%7E:text=The%20Pampanga%20River%20is

%20threatened,rivers%20can%20no%20longer%20provide.\

Pena, R. (2021a). Rehabilitation set for Pampanga River Basin. SunStar.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/149076/rehabilitation-set-for-

pampanga-river-basin

Pena, R. (2021b, June 24). Pena: Pampanga River a major source of

plastics in the ocean. SUNSTAR.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1898724/pampanga/opinion/pena

-pampanga-river-a-major-source-of-plastics-in-the-ocean

University of the Philippines Diliman. (2021). Pampanga river basin has

emerging contaminants. https://upd.edu.ph/pampanga-river-basin-

has-emerging-contaminants/