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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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The #1 Environmental Issue that we are facing in our country today is WATER POLLUTION.

Join NAFCON as we work toward environmental justice and sustainability in the Philippines. Visit us at www.nafconusa.org to find out ways to participate including becoming a member of our alliance, attending our events, joining a solidarity missions to the Philippines, donating to our alliance and our relief efforts and signing on to our mailing list for future activities.

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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POLLUTION; A GLOBAL KILLER

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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A DOCUMENTARY. This video concentrates on the effects of Air, Water, and Land pollution. Landfills are very detrimental to our land Ecosystems. Oil Spills affect our seas and oceans, while we pollute the air with our terrible chemicals and smokestacks. In this quick documentary, you will learn about all these things, and more, including diffusing some myths about Natural Pollution. You will also view videos of the Pacific Trash Vortex. I hope you enjoy this Documentary as much as I did making it. Have fun, and watch on.

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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The Pasig River: Reviving a Dead Water in the Philippines (A Short Documentation)

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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POLLUTION IN THE PHILIPPINES

by: Powtoon

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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AGUANOMICS: Water Pollution and Illness in the Philippines

Water pollution has become a rising concern for todays world, especially with rapid increases in population, urbanization and industrialization. Thus, methods to control this situation must be set in place, however, this is rather difficult as oceans and large bodies of water are not owned by an individual entity; making it hard to control and manage the amount of pollution released. Pollution comes in the forms of raw sewage, detergents, fertilizer, heavy metals, chemical products, oils and solid wastes, hereby resulting in 22.2 million metric tons of organic pollution annually, thus the country urgently needs methods to control the pollution. Especially considering the fact that 50 out of the 421 rivers are considered biologically dead, in addition to only 47% of the 127 freshwater rivers contain good water quality. Due to the lack of freshwater and the majority of bodies of water being infected, causing an outbreak in many disease-causing bacteria and viruses resulting in health outbreaks and increase in death rates, including economic costs of P67 (€1.25) billion for health, fisheries production and tourism. Some of the known diseases caused by poor water include gastro-enteritis, diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, dysentery, hepatitis, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. Whereby one of the reasons may be due to the fact that only 6 out of 115 Philippine cities have sewerage systems. However, the awareness of the situation is still low, which is reflected in low willingness-to-pay for connection to a sewerage system. Thus, although the Philippines has several laws regarding water pollution, including the Clean Water Act implemented in 2004, the lack of enforcement is of great concern, in addition to problems such as inadequate resources, poor database, and weak cooperation among different agencies and Local Government Units. Bottom Line The Philippines needs to increase the awareness regarding the improvement of sanitation and water pollution to reduce illnesses caused by water-born sources, and act upon implementing these solutions (such as expanding sewerage collection and treatment) since 31% of illnesses are caused by water born diseases.

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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WATER POLLUTION, An International Problem

Water Pollution

Water covers about 70% of the surface of the Earth. Water is an important resource for the people and the environment. Water is the basis of life, it makes up to 60-95 % of the total weight of any functioning living cell.

Though, 70% of earth's surface is covered with water only 0.00192% of the water is available for human consumption. Pollution of water affects drinking water, lakes, river and oceans all over the world. In most of the developing countries the major cause of death is consumption of polluted water. Water pollution affects all living species and also populations and the complete functioning of the ecosystem that lives in the waters.

We have now realized the importance of clean water as the basis of life. In the recent time, more work is being put to educate, restore, protect waterways and encourage practices that help to avoid more water contamination and to preserve water systems from destruction.

What is Water Pollution

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Water pollution is the pollution or contamination of natural water bodies like lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, and groundwater due to inflow or deposition of pollutants directly or indirectly into water systems. Water pollution very often caused by human activities.

Any modifications or change in the chemical, physical and biological properties of water that can cause any harmful consequences on living things and the environment is known as water pollution.

Types of Water Pollution

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There are may types of water pollution depending on the sources the pollutants originate from. Types of water pollution are as follows:

Nutrient Pollution Sewage water, waste water that contain high level of nutrients enter into water bodies. Nutrients in water encourage the growth of algae and weed in the water. This is known as eutrophication. This makes the water unfit for consumption and clog filters. Algal blooms in the water consume all the oxygen in the water, leading to suffocation for other water organisms.

Surface Water Pollution Surface water includes rivers, lakes, oceans, streams, lagoons. Surface run-off substances that are hazardous dissolve and mix with water polluting the surface water. These run-off substances can be from any source like factories, domestic, sewage, agriculture etc.

Oxygen Depletion

Increase in the content of biodegradable matter in the water encourages the growth of microorganisms which end up using most of the oxygen. This results in oxygen depletion, killing aerobic organisms producing more of toxins like ammonia and sulphides.

Ground Water Pollution Chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides applied to the soil are washed off and seep in the ground contaminating the composition of the ground water causing pollution.

Natural Pollution Sometimes pollution is caused by microorganisms like bacteria and protozoa, this natural pollution can be lethal for fishes and other water life. Consumption of this water can lead to serious illness to humans.

Suspended Matter Particulate matter of chemicals and other substances do not dissolve in water easily. These suspended particulate matters settle at the bottom of the water body harming the aquatic life at the floor of the water bodies.

Chemical Water Pollution Most of the industrial let-off and chemical fertilizers used in farming end up in the water bodies. These materials are poisonous to most of the aquatic life, can make them infertile and eventually cause death. Water from these sources is obviously unfit for consumption.

Oil Spillage Oil tankers and offshore petroleum refineries cause oil leakage polluting water. Oil spills can cause death of many aquatic organisms and also stick to the bodies and feather so seabirds which makes them unable to fly.

Domestic Sewage Domestic sewage is the waste water from households. It is also includes sanitary sewage, and it contains a variety of dissolved and suspended. Domestic sewage contains disease causing microbes and chemicals contained in washing powders affect the health of all life forms in water.

Agricultural Run-off The practices followed in agriculture affect the groundwater quality. Intensive cultivation causes fertilizers and pesticides to seep into the groundwater; this process is known as leaching. Irrigation run-off from agricultural fields causes high nitrate content in ground water.

Industrial Effluents Untreated waste water from manufacturing industries contributes to water pollution.

Thermal Water Pollution Thermal water pollution is the rise or fall in water temperatures. This changes in the temperature of water can be caused due to industries. Some industries use water as cooling agent, the heated water is let-off directly into the natural environment at a higher temperature. Cold water pollution happens when cold water is released into the water bodies. Aquatic organisms like fish are vulnerable to slight changes in the temperature. Heated water decreases oxygen in the water killing fish and other aquatic organisms. Cold water affects eggs and larvae, some invertebrates of the aquatic ecosystem.

Sources of Water Pollution

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Sources of water pollution, particularly ground water pollution are group under two categories based on the origin of the pollutant.

Point Source PollutionWater pollution caused by point sources refers to the contaminants that enter the water body from a single, identifiable source like pipe or ditch. Point source pollutants can be discharges from sewage treatment plant, factories or a city storm drain.

Nonpoint Source PollutionPollution caused by nonpoint sources refers to the contamination that does not originate from a single source. Nonpoint source pollution is the cumulative effect of small contaminants gathered in large area. Leaching of nitrogen compounds from agricultural land, storm water runoff over an agricultural land or a forest are examples of nonpoint source pollution.

Water Pollutants

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Major water pollutants are as follows:

Sewage

- Sewage pollutants include domestic and hospital wastes, animal and human excreta etc. The sewage let off causes oxygen depletion, spread of diseases/epidemics.

Metals

- Metals like mercury are let off into water bodies from industries. Heavy metals like mercury cause poisoning and affect health causing numbness of tongue, lips, limbs,deafness, blurred vision and mental disorders.

Lead

- Industrial wastes also lead to Lead pollution. If lead enters the human body system in higher quantities it affects RBCs, bone, brain, liver, kidney and the nervous system. Severe lead poisoning can also lead to coma and death.

Cadmium

- Source for cadmium pollution is industries, fertilizers. Cadmium gets deposited in visceral organs like liver, pancreas, kidney, intestinal mucosa etc. Cadmium poisoning causes vomiting, headache, bronchial pneumonia, kidney necrosis, etc.

Arsenic

- Fertilizers are source for arsenic pollution. Arsenic poisoning causes renal failure and death. It also causes liver and kidney disorders, nervous disorders and muscular atrophy, etc.

Agrochemicals like DDT

- It is a pesticide. Accumulation of these pesticides in bodies of fishes, birds, mammals and man affects nervous system, fertility and causes thinning of egg shells in birds.

Bacteria, Viruses and Parasites

- These are sourced from human and animal excreta, they are infectious agents.

Plastics, Detergents, Oil and Gasoline

- They are a waste from industries, household and farms. They trigger organic pollution and is harmful to health.

Inorganic Chemicals

- Inorganic chemicals like acids, salts, metals are a result of industrial effluents, household cleansers, and surface run-off and are injurious to health.

Radioactive Materials

- Mining and ores processing, power plants, weapons production and natural give rise to radioactive pollution like that of uranium, thorium, cesium, iodine and radon. Radioactive pollution causes serious health diseases to all organisms.

Sediments

- Sedimentation of soil, silt due to land erosion and deposition causes disruption in ecosystem.

Plant Nutrients

- Nutrients like nitrates, phosphates, and ammonium are let off from agricultural and urban fertilizers, sewage and manure. Excess of nutrients cause eutrophication and affect the ecosystem.

Animal Manure and Plant Residues

- These substances in water causes increased algal blooms and microorganism population. This increases oxygen demand of water, affecting aquatic ecosystem. This is introduced into water due to sewage, agricultural run-off, paper mills, food processing etc.

Thermal Pollution

- Temperature changes of water caused due to using water as cooling agent in power plants and industries causes increase in water temperature affecting the aquatic life.

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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Polluted waters of Manila Bay can be saved

Manila Bay, the famous and most polluted body of water in the country, can still be rehabilitated, according to the scientists from the University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute and Greenpeace.

Scientists, who conducted a water sampling along the shore of Manila Bay on Tuesday aboard Greenpeace ship Esperanza, call on the government to enact urgent measures to reverse the bay��s declining state.

“When you think of Manila Bay, contrasting images come to mind. First of a coastline littered with trash, and second, of a beautiful sunset,” said Dr Laura David of UP-MSI. “But what is really interesting is that underneath these familiar images, Manila Bay, with all its pollution, still contains life and gives life.”

“With strong political will, the comprehensive rehabilitation of Manila Bay is not impossible. Government agencies and local government units should not lose sight of fulfilling this goal,” said Vince Cinches, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Oceans Campaigner.

The waters of Manila Bay contains domestic sewage, toxic industrial effluents from factories and shipping operations, leachate from garbage dumps, and runoff from chemical agriculture, converge into a hideous cocktail, they said.

Although a subject of a Writ of Continuing Mandamus issued by the Supreme Court in 2008, ordering various government agencies to help in its clean up, the bay’s condition remains largely unimproved.

Research shows that unprocessed waste ending up in the bay has resulted in high levels of fecal coliform and the presence of heavy metals, pesticides, and excess feeds in its waters. This, along with other factors, have resulted in the degradation of Manila Bay and its coastal areas, resulting in an estimated PHP 4 billion in damages yearly, mostly in fisheries, exports, and mortality costs due to waterborne diseases.

“Pollutants which come from both land and sea are responsible for grave effects on marine life because they interfere with the functions of marine ecosystem,” said ENS Grace Idos, Chief of Staff of the Marine Environmental Research and Development Center (MERDC) of theMarine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) of the Philippine Coast Guard, present during a press conference after the scientific demonstration. “Among the many contributors to the pollution in Manila Bay are oil spills coming from ships, vessels, and industries along waterways and land vehicles that throw their used oil in creeks, canals, and drainage every time they change engine oil.”

Partial economic valuation of selected uses of Manila Bay’s resources in 2006 estimated more than PHP 8.7 billion a year earned from aquaculture (PHP 5.1 billion), tourism (PHP 2 billion), and in ports/harbors and offshore fisheries. Among the major economic activities in Manila Bay are mussel (tahong) and oyster (talaba) farming. Overfishing is prevalent in the bay which is also a source of commercially important species such as hasa-hasa, bisugo, bagaong, pusit, alimasag, and hipon suahe.

However, because of pollution, marine species in the bay may contain heavy metals and other persistent toxic substances. Dr. Romeo Quijano,Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, UP College of Medicine, says that once ingested, these pollutants may cause cancer, immune system disease, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, congenital malformation and developmental disorders, and many other diseases.

“Allowing the seas to recover benefits not only the environment but also ourselves,” said Cinches. “Manila Bay, representative of the challenges besetting Philippine seas, is dying. Restoring Manila Bay, as well as Philippine seas in general, is not just aesthetic. It brings life and livelihood to coastal communities. Greenpeace is calling on the Philippine government to enact a Roadmap to Recovery for the Philippine Seas that would allow our seas to continue to be a productive resource for future generations of Filipinos.”

The Esperanza is in the Philippines for the “Ocean Defender Tour of Southeast Asia 2013.” The tour aims to tell the story of the richness and the beauty of the Philippine seas, expose destruction that causes marine degradation, and sound the alarm to call for urgent government action to save the Philippine seas from crisis. Filipinos can join the growing movement of people dedicated to saving the seas by signing up atwww.defendouroceans.org.

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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PHILIPPINE WATER PATROL TO RISE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Water PatrolOn this page

What we're doing

What is Project Clean Water?

Our Work So Far:

How you can help: Join the Water Patrol!

Page - September 28, 2010Clean water is a right that should be enjoyed by everyone. Today, however, this right is being violated by industrial activities that destroy the country's freshwater ecosystems and threaten our health. The chemical crisis and climate change will further worsen the availability of, and access to, clean water. Greenpeace fights the changing climate and aims to save our water resources through a Clean production revolution.What we're doing

Just a few decades ago, the thought of water shortages in a water-rich tropical country like the Philippines seemed far-fetched, but with the combined impacts of the chemical crisis and climate change, that once far-fetched notion has already become a reality. Unfettered industrial development, coupled with poor pollution prevention policies, have contributed to the steady decline in the quality of the country's freshwater resources. The Philippine Environment Monitor (PEM) says that the country's water availability per capita per year is the second lowest in all of Southeast Asia. Water pollution, climate change, land use changes, and fragmented water policies are expected to worsen the water crisis. Experts further predict that by 2025, certain major river basins in the country -- particularly in Luzon and in the Visayas -- will experience a lack of available water. It is against the backdrop of this looming crisis that Greenpeace’s Project Clean Water was developed.

What is Project Clean Water?

Project Clean Water is a Greenpeace campaign that aims to provide a platform for public engagement on water issues. Greenpeace hopes that this will bring people together toward the common goal of protecting our water resources. The vision behind Project Clean Water is for the organization to work hand in hand with a broad range of audiences that include consumers, local communities, academic institutions, decision-makers and others to ensure that our people’s right to clean water and a healthful ecology is respected. One of the components of Project Clean Water is the Water Patrol, a team of dedicated volunteers that investigate and report on water pollution cases within the country.

Our Work So Far:

Since its launch in 2007, the Water Patrol has borne witness to and reported on the nitrate contamination of groundwater from vegetable farms in Benguet and volatile organic chemicals from the electronics industry in the Cavite Economic Zone. In 2008, it exposed the continued operation of dumpsites around the Laguna Lake -- including that of the Angono dump – which were in violation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (ESWMA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) . This prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to issue a warning to local government units around the lake to close down these dumps or face sanctions. This year, Greenpeace continued to monitor and expose water pollution cases in the mass media. In October, Greenpeace, along with our partner non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs), helped to expose the unfettered dumping of post-Ondoy waste and debris into the Nangka River in Marikina. As a result, the DENR immediately ordered the local government of Marikina to institute mitigating measures for the Nangka River. The Marikina government was also ordered to clear all the debris from the river. Also in the same month, Greenpeace investigated a toxic spill in Cavite upon learning that more than seventy (70) community members were hospitalized for coming into contact with the toxins. The spill was was traced back to the Cleanway Techology Corporation. Greenpeace plugged the company’s discharge pipe, took water samples from the pipes for testing, and joined the community’s picket line at the company’s gates. Several of our partner NGOs also joined the protests. As a result, Cleanway’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has committed to a full disclosure of all wastes stored, treated, handled and the chemicals that may have been released in October. The company has also asked for time to correct their operational lapses.

How you can help: Join the Water Patrol!

Greenpeace relies on its dedicated team of staff, supporters and volunteers in order to safeguard our country’s water quality. When you sign up for the Water Patrol, you can become part of a team that monitors and documents pollution hotspots and participates in cyber actions and legislative lobbies. These activities aim to inform and educate decision makers like politicians, media and the general public to make enlightened choices for the future of our country and our planet.

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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WATER CLEAN PRODUCTION

Clean Production

Current industrial production patterns using hazardous chemicals have caused harm to the environment and to our health and have pushed the planet to the brink of disaster. To help reverse this chemical crisis, we need a change in the way we produce and consume things. Clean Production is a new way of looking at production and consumption patterns. It entails the redesign of products in order to

eliminate hazardous chemicals in all stages of a product’s life and seek safe and sustainable alternatives;

minimize waste generation;

reduce the need for raw materials and energy;

use clean, renewable energy sources in the product process and design.

The Clean Production concept seeks to integrate the following principles: 1. The Precautionary Principle: This principle requires companies to take action to avoid environmental and health damage as soon as there are indications of adverse effects. 2. The Preventive Principle: This principle seeks to avoid, rather than manage, environmental and health damage, which can be financially and morally expensive. 3. The Public Participation Principle: This principle provides the public with access to information and allows concerned citizens to participate in decision making. 4. The Holistic Principle: This principle uses an integrated approach towards production that conforms to the cyclical processes of nature. The ultimate goal of Clean Production is to close the loop of production, consumption and recycling. It means that the products are safe and have zero discharges or emissions. With clean reuse and recycling, materials that are traditionally thought of as wastes are returned to the production cycle as raw materials, thus creating a balance between environmental protection and sustainable economic development.

Categories

climate change,

forests,

toxics

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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CAVITE WATER POLLUTION TO SPREAD IN THE COUNTRY

Trece Martires City, Cavite – Local government authorities in this city have started efforts to clean rivers in the lowland and upland districts of the province following reports that some tributaries are contaminated by waste and toxic chemicals.

Engineer Rolinio P. Pozas, head of the Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO), confirmed that river water clean-up was intensified this year.

River dredging and clearing operations were relaunched in Bacoor District in January as a course of action against floods and pollution in the area.

During the launch, waste traps were installed along waterways bounding several barangays (villages) in the district.

One of the notable pieces of evidence of water pollution in the province were the “fish kills” in Rosario municipality in 2014 and 2015.

Initial findings showed that human waste, toxic waste, and lack of water oxygen as the causes of the “fish kills” in the municipality. Some factories and residential houses along the river, among others, were suspected to be main sources of pollutants.

The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Export Processing Zone Authority, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources conducted separate investigations but have yet to reveal the exact pollution source until this day.

In an interview on Friday (Feb. 10), Pozas confirmed that the waters in one river in the province was found to have coliform bacteria and that he suspected that a sewage being placed beside the riverside as the main “culprit.”

The PG-ENRO chief said monitoring, water testing and treatment are being conducted regularly every year. He also said more waterway measures, including the trash trap installation, will also be implemented starting 2017.

In the same interview, Pozas also said not all tap water in the province are safe for drinking. He said it would be best to boil the tap water first prior to drinking.

Tags: Cavite takes action against water pollution, clean rivers, environment, Manila Bulletin, mb.com.ph, News today, Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office, waste and toxic chemicals

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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GREENPEACE WATER POLLUTION ADVOCATE

Imagine a world where a liter of water costs two or three times as much as a liter of gasoline because our water supply has become so poisoned that there are very few sources of freshwater left. Many people poke fun at this scenario, saying that it’s never going to happen, but the reality is that it could happen sooner than we think. The pollution of the world’s freshwater supply is already happening at an alarming rate, and if we do not take measures to stop what’s happening, we could be facing a water scarcity crisis very soon. Industry’s unfettered disposal of toxic materials and byproducts into our water supply plays a huge role in the growing water crisis. In the Philippines alone, chemical pollution is quickly taking its toll on our limited supply of fresh water. A lethal cocktail of hazardous chemicals are being dumped daily into such major water sources as the Laguna Lake and the Pasig River. Data from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Philippines showed that out of the 127 freshwater bodies that they sampled, 47% percent were found to have good water quality. However, 40% of those sampled were found to have only fair water quality, while 13% showed poor water quality. Most alarming of all was a statement from then Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes that as many as 50 of the 421 rivers in the Philippines are already considered “biologically dead.” Biologically dead rivers no longer contain any oxygen and cannot support any but the hardiest kinds of species. If this dangerous and toxic practice continues, a bleak, waterless landscape may not be far from our country’s future.

What caused the widespread pollution of our wastewater?

The major sources of water pollution in the country are inadequately treated domestic wastewater or sewage, agricultural wastewater, industrial wastewater, and non-point sources such as rain- and groundwater runoff from solid waste or garbage deposits, which is also known as leachate. Here is a brief look at the pollutants found in each of the categories mentioned above:

Industrial wastewater: The kinds of pollutants found in industrial wastewater varies according to the types of industries involved, but some common pollutants are chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury, and cyanide. Non-point sources/leachate: The same kinds of pollutants found in industrial wastewater can also be found in leachate.

Agricultural wastewater: This can include organic wastes such as decayed plants, livestock manure, and dead animals, soil runoff due to erosion, and pesticides and fertilizer residues. Domestic wastewater/sewage: This can contain bacteria and viruses that can threaten or even be fatal to human life.

Other sources of water pollution include oil and/or chemical spills, mine tailings or spills, and the illegal dumping of wastes in or near bodies of water.

Which areas of the country are most affected?

According to data from the Philippine Environment Monitor (PEM) and the EMB, four regions had unsatisfactory ratings for their water quality criteria. These include the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog Region (Region IV), Central Luzon (Region III), and Central Visayas (Region VII). It is also useful to note that the Ilocos region (Region I) was found to be one of the highest contributors to nitrate contamination.

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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CURRENT STATE OF WATER POLLUTION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Author: Adrian William Tan

Upon a glance, you could say that the bodies of water in the Philippines are polluted, not being cared for, slowly dying, well those thoughts couldn't be farther away from the truth. The current state of the aquatic ecosystem in the Philippines is dismal, and the ever increasing population of the country isn't helping this problem one bit, if ever, its even aiding in the destruction and pollution of our waters. The Philippines is an archipelago which means we are rich in bodies of water. We have 412 principal river basins in 119 proclaimed watersheds. We also have Bays and Coastal Waters cover an area of 266,000 km², while oceanic waters cover 1,934,000 km². In addition to those, we also have quite a number of lakes and multiple sources of ground water. You could really say that we are rich in bodies of water, but what are really the state of these natural resources? The Pasig River is a commercially important artery flowing through the center of Metro Manila, providing the main drainage outlet for most of the waterways. But in time, it has been gravely polluted by the informal settlers near its perimeter. Although in the past few years, rehabilitation of the river is being implemented and as of today, some improvements in the quality of its water can already be seen. EMB monitored a total of 39 bays and coasts in the Philippines for a long time and regularly since 1996. Manila Bay has its own monitoring program. Except for Puerto Galera Bay, which is a protected seascape, the data indicated that 64 percent had DO levels below 5mg/l, the minimum criterion set for waters suitable as a tourist zone, fishery spawning area, and contact recreation or swimming area. In the coasts of Mandaue to Minglanilla in Cebu (Central Visayas), DO levels varied from 0 to 14mg/l, which indicate that the ecosystem is already undergoing “stress” during certain periods.Except in Cawacawa (Zamboanga City), the maximum values of BOD were all within the criterion set for Class SB waters of 5mg/1. Manila Bay has BOD levels that are generally within fishery water quality criterion. However, seasonal high organic loadings from rivers draining into the bays and in particular, Manila Bay, also result in harmful algal blooms (HABs) that pose a continuing threat to marine resources and public health. Laguna de Bay is one of the largest lakes in Southeast Asia and the largest and one of the most vital inland bodies of water in the Philippines. Laguna de Bay is estimate to receive approximately 74,300 tons per year of BOD pollution. Domestic sources contribute 69 percent while the remaining 31 percent is from industrial and agricultural sources. Additionally, with the sedimentation rate of 0.5 centimeters per year, an estimated 66 percent of the land area in the watershed is vulnerable to erosion.Routine monitoring of BOD in Laguna Lake shows that is meets the Class C water quality criterion. This indicates that BOD is not an issue, but siltation may be the main problem. Another body of water that faces pollution are the ground waters. Pollution of groundwater may come from domestic wastewater, agricultural runoffs, and industrial effluents. This occurs when contaminants reach the aquifer or water table in the form of leachate. Domestic wastewater is the main contributor of bacterial contamination to the groundwater supplies. The presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water supplies can cause water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and others. Limited data on the bacteriological content of groundwater from 129 wells indicated a high level of positive coliform bacteria in 75 wells (58 percent). If you think the bodies of water have it bad, think about the organisms that have to live in those waters. Some of them get poisoned then die, others die from euthrophication. There are multiple cases of destruction of marine habitat such as the destruction and of coral reefs. Another issue is the marine ecosystem is facing would be excessive fishing. In a nut shell, we have a lot of polluted bodies water in the Philippines. And our marine ecosystem and biodiversity is slowly diminishing. But all hope in humanity is not yet lost. Despite all these depressing information about the poor state of the bodies of water in the Philippines, there are still some actions being taken to preserve our bodies of water. Among these are the Marine Sanctuaries which aim to preserve the marine ecosystem in a small area. Among these are the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary, Basdio Marine Sanctuary, Nalusuan Marine Sanctuary and many more. All of which aim to preserve the biodiversity and marine habitat within a small area. Sources:http://www.wepa-db.net Philippines: Environment Monitor 2003“Laguna de Bay: The Living Lake” LLDA flyer

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tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

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CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

The Philippines is a developing nation that has experienced a rapid rise in urbanization and industrialization as its population has grown rapidly¹. Unfortunately, this rapid development has come at a price of increased water pollution, with 47% of all surveyed water bodies in the country having good water quality, 40% having only fair water quality, and 13% having poor water quality². Around 50 of the 421 rivers in the Philippines are now considered to be “biologically dead,” supplying sufficient oxygen for only the most hardy species to survive there².

Causes of Water Pollution in the Philippines:

Untreated Raw Sewage. Due to a lack of sufficient and effective sewage treatment infrastructure, only about 10% of the sewage in the Philippines is properly treated³. Much of this waste is directly discarded into waterways, particularly in low income urban areas that lack sufficient infrastructure to support proper treatment of this waste¹.

Such waste can spread disease-causing organisms and can cause waterborne diseases, such as gastroenteritis, diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis. An estimated 58% of the groundwater in the Philippines has been contaminated with coliform bacteria and should be treated¹.

Industrial Wastewater. Specific pollutants vary by each industry, but common industrial pollutants include chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury and cyanide. Such pollutants are dumped directly into water bodies on a daily basis².

Agricultural Wastewater. Pollutants from agriculture can include dead plants, manure, dead animals, soil erosion runoff, and pesticides and fertilizers².

Domestic Wastewater. This can contain disease-causing organisms or toxic chemicals².

Non-Point Sources. Can include runoff from rain and groundwater and from landfills, as well as solid wastes. This type of pollution can contain some of the same toxic chemicals that industrial wastewater contains².

Other Sources. These can include spills from oil and other chemicals, abandoned mines, and the dumping of wastes near or directly into water bodies².

Each type of pollutant can have different toxic and negative effects that can hurt human health and the environment, resulting in high economic costs for both the population and government entities. There are an estimated 2.2 million metric tons of organic water pollution that occur in the Philippines each year².

Solutions

There are a number of actions that the nation of the Philippines can take to address its national problems associated with water pollution.

The people of the Philippines need to be made aware of the health and economic impacts of water pollution, and they should be encouraged to be become involved in decision making processes that affect water management policies. Stakeholders across all sectors also need to work together in order to prioritize and adopt actions affecting water quality⁴.

Wastewater treatment infrastructure should be connected to all properties that are accessible and connectable, and smaller treatment solutions, such as the use of dedicated constructed wetlands to treat sewage and waterless sanitation facilities, should be used whenever possible to reduce construction costs and meet sanitation needs on a more local scale⁴.

Wastewater fees should be increased, with high fees and fines for those who pollute water resources⁴.

Organic and ecological farming practices, such as the the use of permaculture and biodynamic growing methods, should be adopted throughout the country, to reduce soil erosion and eliminate the need for polluting agricultural chemicals.

The Philippines passed a national Clean Water Act in 2004, with the intention of protecting water resources. The Act aims to engage and encourage local governments, water districts, communities, and the private sector to work together to solve the nation’s water pollution challenges⁵.

The focus of the law is to create effective wastewater treatment, production that is cleaner, and the adoption of those technologies that help to reduce waste. Incentives include tax exemptions and tax credits on imported and domestic capital equipment⁵.

In order to ensure that sectors fulfill the requirements associated with the incentives, partnerships with local government and non-governmental organizations are required⁵.

However, with limited resources and insufficient collaboration between organizations, the practical implementation and enforcement of the law have been inadequate to ensure compliance thus far¹.

Increased public education, multi-sector collaborative solutions, and the proper implementation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act and other water quality regulations in the Philippines will be necessary to transform the nation’s water supply.

References

¹ http://www.wepa-db.net/policies/state/philippines/overview.htm

² http://goo.gl/2DcFmO

³ http://goo.gl/sskch

⁴ http://www.waternunc.com/gb/WB45_2004.htm

⁵ http://goo.gl/5iad8t

0 notes

tobluerhorizons-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Water, water everywhere, and much of it polluted

By: Kristine L. Alave

@inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer

/ 05:32 AM March 21, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Filipinos have more than enough of water to drown in but, alas, not a drop for drinking in some areas.

The reason: Much of it is polluted, or simply, the Philippines does not have the infrastructure to impound, treat and distribute it to households, according to an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Vicente Tuddao Jr., the executive director of the DENR’s River Basin Control Office, on Tuesday said Filipinos have so much water around them thanks to an abundant groundwater supply, various inland water bodies and regular rains. But it is not being used in the most efficient manner.

At a press briefing to mark World Water Day on Thursday, Tuddao said the Philippines had 160 billion liters of water available but only 28 percent of that was being used by Filipinos for domestic purposes.

The rest is unfit for drinking and is used for agricultural and industrial purposes.

“We are still at the lower end compared to other Asians. There is a lot of surplus. But our water is polluted,” Tuddao said.

Water rationing

Water pollution is a serious problem in urban areas nationwide, depriving city residents of the precious resource, according to Tuddao.

Metro Manila, for instance, can boast of several bodies of water but none of these supplies the city with potable water.

“Laguna Lake and Pasig River are polluted. Can we use that? Here in Metro Manila, we are still polluting our rivers,” Tuddao said.

He said the metropolis, which depends on river basins in Central Luzon for its water supply, had to implement rationing in some areas during the summer months.

Make use of floodwaters

Tuddao also said the Philippines was not taking advantage of its floodwaters for lack of infrastructure to save this resource.

He noted that other countries, like Singapore, were catching floodwaters in underground cisterns to be used during the dry season for agricultural and industrial purposes.

Compared to other countries, the Philippines is in a unique position when it comes to its abundant water resources, according to the United Nations.

By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions gripped by water scarcity and two-thirds of the world’s population could be facing a possible water shortage, the UN said.

The United Nations said South Asia, East Asia and the Middle East were already close to using up their water resources.

Giant water drop

To celebrate World Water Day on Thursday, personnel from the DENR and other government agencies will assemble and form themselves into the shape of a giant water drop in front of Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

This would be an attempt to set a record as the world’s largest water drop formation, with hundreds of participants expected to attend, Tuddao said.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said this year’s activities would focus on increasing awareness to conserve water resources “not only because we need water to drink, bathe in and wash our clothes, but also because it is an important component of the food that we eat.”

Food supply chain

“Water is very much incorporated in the food supply chain, whether in irrigation, fisheries or in producing feeds for our livestock,” Paje said.

According to Tuddao, the Philippines’ river basins can sufficiently irrigate its crop lands. However, the country needs infrastructure, such as reservoirs and irrigation systems, to make sure water goes to the farmlands with little waste.

He compared the Cagayan Valley river system to the Mekong Delta, that fertile area in Cambodia and Vietnam where rice is grown, but it needs to be rehabilitated.

Some tributaries of the river system, which feeds into 2.5 million hectares of farmland, are polluted and heavily silted. This results in water wastage and floods during the rainy season, Tuddao said.