Seasonal variations in water quality of Laguna de Bay, Philippines: Trends and implications

Abstract

Trend and statistical analyses of seasonal variations in the levels of key water quality parameters of Laguna de Bay in the Philippines showed two distinctly varying water quality conditions prevailing, one in the dry and another in the wet season. The difference in seasonal mean levels is highly significant for almost all the parameters especially for intensity factors such as pH, temperature, clarity, and dissolved oxygen. The observed seasonal variations and temporal trends of key water quality parameters during the last 10 years generally indicate a worsening hypertrophic condition of the lake. Among the parameters that have shown continuing upward trends and have exceeded the allowable limits for water quality criteria for a fishery resource are ammonia-N, nitrate-N, ortho-P, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, conductivity, chlorides, and hardness; while those that showed decreasing trends are alkalinity, pH, clarity, and dissolved oxygen. The negative ecological, economic and health implications of these observations particularly with regard to the continuing use of the lake as a fishery resource and source of domestic water supply, are discussed.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Agricultural Scientist

ISSN

317454

Page

19-20

Document Type

Article

Subject

Dystrophic, Hypertrophic, Seasonal water quality, Trend analysis

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