DENR tells Minglanilla folk: Avoid drinking, bathing in Guindarohan

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has raised its concern over the poor quality of water in Guindarohan River in Minglanilla town, southern Cebu.

The DENR, through the Environmental Management Bureau’s 2009 accomplishment report, warned residents against using water taken directly from that river.

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“The water of Guindarohan River poses health risks to residents who are using the water directly without prior treatment,” the report stated, adding that the risk comes from the suspended solids in the water.

The agency said the water “especially in the upstream portion is not suitable for consumption as well as for bathing.”

The Guindarohan River, which originates in the mountain area around Naga and Minglanilla and discharges into the eastern coastline of Cebu, stretches from Barangay Cantao-an in Naga City to its mount in Barangay Lower Minglanilla.

The water body is affected by sand and gravel quarrying and domestic discharges, said EMB 7 in its report.

Upstream, Guindarohan River is Class A, according to DENR Administrative Order 90-34, on water usage, classification and water quality.

The water in this area is classified as Public Water Supply Class II. This means this source of water supply requires complete treatment like coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection to meet the National Standards for Drinking Water (NSDW) standards.

Downstream, the river is Class C, which is fit for propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources, for recreation such as boating and for industrial supply, like manufacturing processes, after treatment.

The EMB 7 has seven sampling stations, namely: Abuno bridge, Tabo-an, 100 meters downstream of the JLR Construction and Aggregates Inc. outfall, confluence, Matun-og River, Cabo-an and Naupa River.

In terms of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO), there are no significant pollution levels observed.

But the test for total suspended solids or TSS, a water quality measurement, showed very high results ranging from 63.6 mg/L to 651.7 mg/L.

“Pollution sources in the upstream of the river are small and large-scale sand and gravel quarrying. It can be observed that in the upstream portion, just before the quarry site, the water is still clear,” the agency reported. (BAP)