Water Quality Issues

Rodney A. Bariga
CENBSAE 5
 What is Water Quality??

 Chemical
 Physical
 Biological
 radiological
It is a measure of the condition of water relative to
the requirements of one or more biotic species and or
to any human need or purpose.
Water Quality Issues (International)

Water Quality Facts:

 One in nine people worldwide uses drinking water from
unimproved and unsafe sources
 2.4 billion people live without any form of sanitation
 Lack of sanitation is one of the most significant forms
of water pollution.
 90% of sewage in developing countries is discharged
untreated directly into water bodies
 Every day 2 million tonnes of sewage and other
effluents drain into the world’s water
 Industry discharges an estimated 300-400 megatonnes of
waste into water bodies every year
 Non-point source pollution from agriculture and urban
areas often greatly increases the total pollutant load
together with industrial point source pollution
 A reduction of about one-third of the global biodiversity is
estimated to be a consequence of the degradation of
freshwater ecosystems mainly due to pollution of water
resources and aquatic ecosystems
 Re-use of wastewater in agriculture is important for
livelihoods, but is associated with serious health risks-

-IIWQ UNESCO
Water Quality Issues (Philippines)

Water pollution is a major problem in the Philippines.

According to Water Environment Partnership in Asia
(WEPA), 32 percent of the Philippines’ land mass —
approximately 96,000 square kilometers — is used for
agriculture. The primary crops are palay (rice), corn,
sugar cane, fruit, root crops, vegetables and trees (for
rubber). Increased population, urbanization, agriculture
and industrialization have all reduced the quality of
water in the Philippines
Water pollution in the Philippines is mostly wastewater from
the following sources:

1. Industrial: The metal varies according to industry — lead,

mercury, chromium, cadmium and cyanide.
2. Agricultural: Organic — decayed plants, dead animals,
livestock manure, soil runoff; and non-organic — pesticides
and fertilizers.
3. Domestic sewage: Contains pathogens that threaten
human health and life.
4. Other sources: Oil, mine or chemical spills and illegal
dumping in or near water.
Water Quality Issues (Bukidnon)

In Bukidnon the water pollution caused by:

 Siltation
 dumping of solid waste and
 pollution caused by piggeries and other
industries
 Unsustainable farming methods being practiced by
migrants and even the Lumads in Kitanglad, Kalatungan and
in Pantaron have also contributed to forest degradation. In
Kitanglad, the focus is on producing high value crops with
heavy use of chemicals and in Pantaron, corn and root crops.
In addition, with the exception of Malaybalay City, the
local governments are yet to declare a clear-cut stand on the
mining applications covering Pantaron, an issue that would
test their avowed policy to conserve vital watersheds.