Physio-biochemical Fingerprints of the Angat River: An Environmental Investigation for Sustainable Program Development

Abstract

River systems throughout history have been the life source and support of allknown human civilizations. From being a constant food source and a vital link to the propagation of economic trails, river systems have gone beyond what isexpected of them. Such intricate connection that bonds rivers and human beings isneither without limit nor inevitable danger. The study assessed the environmentalcondition of selected sections of the Angat River located in Calumpit, Plaridel,Pulilan, Hagonoy and Paombong. Descriptive evaluation was primarily utilizedin determining the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the AngatRiver. The findings revealed that the: 1) Calumpit-Plaridel-Pulilan-HagonoyPaombongsections werewithin the standardpH parameter but werebiologicallypollutedas shownbyits high BiologicalOxygen Demand(BOD); 2) CalumpitPlaridel-PulilansectionshaveachancetorecoveronitsownbecauseofahighDissolvedOxygen (DO) content while the downstreamsections of HagonoyPaombongmay haveless chance to recoverdue to lowDO content; 3) riversectionswerepolluted with oil, grease,and TotalSuspendedSolids(TSS);and4)Calumpit-Plaridel-Pulilansections wereteeming with E.Coli microorganismcomparedwith the Hagonoy-Paombongsections which werefreeof E-Coli.Keywords: Environmental science, physio-biochemical fingerprints, environmentalinvestigation, program development, descriptive design, Philippines