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In the Philippines, one of the country’s existing problems is the pollution on freshwater

resources and water scarcity. As defined by the National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB), the

country obtains its water supply needs from rainfall, ground and surface water resources

including lakes and rivers. There are 18 major river basins, 421 sub river basins, and 79 lakes in

the country as reported by NWRB and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

According to Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) report, only about 47 % of 127 water

resources in the Philippines are found to have a good water quality to consider as a source of

water supply. Among inland surface waters, only Meycauayan, Bocaue, and Marilao Rivers have

been monitored. Annual average monitoring results of Meycauayan River in 2001, 2003, and
2004 show an excess (based on minimum criteria and value) for chromium (2001), cadmium

(2001), and lead (2004) (EMB, 2006). The Philippines Environment Monitor (PEM 2003), on

the other hand, reported that heavy metals and toxic pollutants from industrial sources were

found to contribute to pollution in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Cebu and

mining sources in the Cordillera Autonomous Region and CARAGA.

These metals can bioaccumulate, so scientists are motivated to develop purification and

extraction methods using a variety of techniques (Igwe 2003). Some of these techniques have

been successful but are expensive or have detrimental effects on the environment. This justifies

the need to investigate additional methods. This study aims to determine if the Cucurbita

(Pumpkin) peelings can effectively remove heavy metal ions such as lead and copper sulfate in

aqueous solution. To test the efficacy of Cucurbita (Pumpkin) peelings in the removal of heavy

metals in water, the student investigators will provide varying concentrations of Copper Sulfate

and Lead aqueous solutions.