Exploring Water Quality and Toxicity: An Analysis of Cadmium and Lead Concentration in the Parañaque River

Abstract

Rivers provide vital environmental functions, including transportation, irrigation, water supply, flood control, and habitat for aquatic life. Water contamination, resulting in poor water quality, is a pressing issue affecting communities’ health, safety, and environment worldwide, leading to health issues. This research study aimed to monitor the water quality of the Parañaque River and the potential toxicity of heavy metal concentrations, specifically Cadmium and Lead, from September to October 2022. Surface water samples were taken to assess the heavy metals’ concentration levels and water quality parameters: color, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), and total suspended solids (TSS). The collection of water samples followed the standard method for surface water sampling listed in the Water Quality Monitoring Manual Volume 1 of Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB). The collected data were compared using descriptive statistics to the established water quality standards of DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-08. The analyses used a significance level of 0.05 or 5%. ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis were used to compare the sampling locations that showed no significant difference in the water quality of the three sampling sites at Parañaque River. Paired T-Test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were used to compare the difference in the time of water sampling. The results showed a significant difference for all parameters between morning and afternoon sampling except DO, TSS, and TDS. The Parañaque River’s water quality, heavily polluted with domestic and industrial waste, bacteria, and other microorganisms, failed to meet DENR’s standards for Class C water, thus indicating its poor condition.