Water quality analysis of Porac River in Floridablanca, Pampanga with notes on lead contamination in water, fish, and sediment

An assessment on the water quality of Porac River and determination of lead contamination in water, fish and sediments obtained from the river were conducted from July to December 1997. Two sampling sites along Porac River, Floridablanca, Pampanga were chosen based on their accessibility. Values obtained for the water temperature ranged from 26.5 centigrade - 35 centigrade. Depth ranged from 14.16 to 55.55 cm. Secchi Disc transparency ranged from 0.0 to 22.25 cm. Current velocity ranged from 0 to 33.34 cm/sec. Total solids ranged from 24.16 - 51.86 mg/L. And the colour was noted to be brown and green in both sites 1 and 2. The values obtained for pH ranged from 6.0 to 7.05. Conductivity ranged from 121.66 to 766.66 mg/L. Total hardness ranged from 45.66 to 372.66 mg CaC03/L Dissolved oxygen content ranged from 6.65 to 14.2 mgL. Nitrate content ranged from 0.03 to 25.75 mg/L. Orthophosphate content ranged from 0.008 to 0.485 mg/L. Lastly, gross primary productivity ranged from 0.02 to 1.7167 mg/L/hr. The readings obtained passed the criteria for Class C waters as described in the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 34. The lead content of water ranged from 0.04 to 0.34 mg/L. Most of the values measured were higher than the DENR standard (0.05 mg/L). The lead content of the fishes collected ranged from 0.63 mg/L for Molliensia latipinna and 0.88 to 1.52 mg/L for Glossogobius giurus. The lead content in sediments ranged from 34.0 to 42.0 mg/L