Quality of Coastal Waters in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental

Cajoles, Cesar Jr. V. Maghanoy, Ricardo Jr. M. Ronquillo, Roland John T.

Miranda, Louie Ville H. Balo, Kim Jay A.
Department of Natural Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Misamis University,
Ozamiz City 7200
*Corresponding author: cesarjr_cajoles@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Quality of coastal waters is very important and affected by human pollution. This study
was conducted to analyze the water quality in selected sampling sites on Brgy. Palilan
and Taboo. Results of the study showed that most of the physico-chemical paramaters
such as temperature(26C -28C) Salinity (1.5ppt- 5ppt), pH (7.71-10.11), and density
(1.005-1.019). Overall assesment revealed that the quality of the water are good for
swimming.

Keyword: assesment, relative humidity, water quality

INTRODUCTION
Marine ecosystem cover two-thirds of the surface of the Earth (Michael John
Kingsford,(2008). Such places are considered ecosystems because the plant life supports
the animal life and vice versa . Marine ecosystems are very important for the overall
health of both marine and terrestrial environments. According to the World Resource
Center, coastal habitats alone account for approximately 1/3 of all marine biological
productivity, and estuarine ecosystems (i.e., salt marshes, sea grasses, mangrove forests)
are among the most productive regions on the planet. In addition, other marine
ecosystems such as coral reefs, provide food and shelter to the highest levels of marine
diversity in the world ( Barange M, Field JG, Harris RP, Eileen E, Hofmann EE, Perry RI
and Werner F (2010) The quality of coastal water is of great importance to the overall
maintenance and function of the coastal ecosystem. Water quality impacts both directly
and indirectly on the diversity and abundance of marine communities as well as
recreational use of the coast ( Diersing, 2009) .

Poor coastal and marine water quality can be defined in several ways. Environmental
water quality, also called ambient water quality, relates to water bodies such as lakes,

rivers, and oceans (Linton & Warner 2003). Water quality standards for surface waters
vary significantly due to different environmental conditions, ecosystems, and intended
human uses. Toxic substances and high populations of certain microorganisms can
present a health hazard for non-drinking purposes such as irrigation, swimming, fishing,
rafting, boating, and industrial uses. These conditions may also affect wildlife, which use
the water for drinking or as a habitat. Modern water quality laws generally specify
protection of fisheries and recreational use and require, as a minimum, retention of
current quality standards. There is some desire among the public to return water bodies to
pristine, or pre-industrial conditions. (WANI, 2014). Most current environmental laws
focus on the designation of particular uses of a water body. In some countries these
designations allow for some water contamination as long as the particular type of
contamination is not harmful to the designated uses. In these cases, environmental
scientists focus on achieving goals for maintaining healthy ecosystems and may
concentrate on the protection of populations of endangered species and protecting human
health. (Rapport, and Maffi (2011).
Marine waters includes a range of threats including from land-based sources, oil
spills, untreated sewage, heavy siltation, eutrophication (nutrient enrichment), invasive
species, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals from mine tailings and other
sources, acidification, radioactive substances, marine litter, overfishing and destruction of
coastal and marine habitats (McCook 1999, Nystrm et al. 2000, Bellwood et al. 2004). A
major threat beyond overexploitation of fisheries and physical destruction of marine
coastal habitats by dredging, is undoubtedly the strong increase in coastal development
and discharge of untreated sewage into the near-shore waters, resulting in enormous
amounts of nutrients spreading into the sea and coastal zones (Burke et al., 2002;
Wilkinson, 2002; Brown et al., 2006; UNEP, 2006). This, together with changes in
salinity, melting sea ice, increased sea temperatures and future changes in sea currents
may severely affect marine life and their ability to recover from extreme climatic
events. Throughout human existence we have relied on the oceans for food, as a waste
dump, for recreation, for economic opportunities and so on. However, its not only our
activities in the marine environment that affect life in the sea its also the things we do
on land (CathBattersby, 2011). With more than half the worlds population now living
within 100 kilometres of the coast, its not surprising that our activities are taking their
toll. Human impacts have increased along with our rapid population growth, substantial
developments in technology and significant changes in land use. Over-fishing, pollution
and introduced species are affecting life in the sea (McCook 1999, Nystrm et al. 2000,
Bellwood et al. 2004).
Jimenez is
a
third
class municipality in
the province of Misamis
Occidental, Philippines. Three out of its 24 barangays are coastal, characterized by wide
emergent reef flats but relatively narrow fringing reefs. In many coastal communities, the
majority of households depend directly on fish and other coastal resources for their
livelihood. Several of the important fishing bays often have more than 70 fisherfolk per
kilometer of coastline. Such areas include iligan bay. Within the coastal zone, near-shore
fisheries are the most heavily exploited. An increasing number of small fisher families
compete with each other, as well as with commercial fishermen for fishery resources.

Thus, this study was conducted to assess the status of the coastal areas in Jimenez
for the development of management strategies and for and develop or use existing future
monitoring.

Methodology
Study Area
Jimenez is a third class coastal town and one of the oldest municipalities in
the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. It lies at the coordinates 8o 00 to 8o 15N
latitude and 123o 32 to 123o 37 E longitude. And in the port of jimenez there are several ships
are docking there to carry charcoal and deliver it from other places.
Palilan, Taboo and Butuay are the three coastal barangays out of 24 barangays in Jimenez
(Fig. 1). These are characterized by wide emergent reef flats but relatively narrow fringing reefs.
In many coastal communities, the majority of households depend directly on fish and other
coastal resources for their livelihood. Several of the important fishing bays often have more than
70 fisherfolk per kilometer of coastline. Within the coastal zone, near-shore fisheries are the most
heavily exploited. An increasing number of small fisher families compete with each other, as
well as with commercial fishermen for fishery resources.

Figure 1. A map showing the selected sampling sites

Sampling Procedures
In each of the sampling site (Palilan, Taboo and Port), there will be three sampling
points to be established (10meters, 20meters, 30meters) . Water samples was collected
from each sampling site using cleaned polyethylene bottles for physico-chemical
analysis. The bottles was washed with the sample before the final sample collection.
These was tightly closed, properly labeled and placed in insulated cooler box with ice and
immediately brought to the laboratory for analysis.
Physico-chemical paremeters
Temperature
Temperature was measured with a thermometer usually made of a glass tube with colored
alcohol.
pH
To measure the pH, pH meter was used.
Salinity
Salinity was measured using a recfractometer.
Density
To measure density hydrometer was used.
Relative Humidity(Wet and Dry)
To measure Relative Humidity, Sling psychrometer was used.
Depthness
To measure Depthness Secchi Disk was used .

Results and Discussion

The results of water temperature in three sampling sites Palilan sub site 1 and 2 are the lowest
temperature of 26C. Port sub site 2 and 3 and Taboo sub site 3 are the highest temperature
among the other selected sampling site with 28C(Figure 2) . Result of salinity Palilan sub site 1
is less saltiness dissolved of 1.5(ppt) and Port sub site 1 , 3 and Taboo sub site 1 is greater
saltiness dissolved of 5(ppt) (Figure 3). The pH ranged in the Port (8.1-10.11) and Taboo (8.118.13) are excellent indication of pH values except Palilan sampling sites(Figure 4). Results of
density from Palilan sub site 1 is less dense of 1.005 and Taboo sub site 1 is more dense than the
other selected sampling sites with a density of 1.019(Figure 5). Relative Humidity results in the
three sampling sites is the three selected sampling sites in station 3 are the same RH(Figure 6).
Depthness of 3 selected sampling sites Palilan sub site 1 with 0.05m is less deeper while Taboo
sub site 3 is deeper than the all selected sampling sites with depthness of 20m(Figure 7).
Therefore the water cannot be used for drinking but can be good for swimming.

25

26

27

28

29

30

Temperature (C)

Figure 2.Comparison of Temperature readings of selected sampling stations of Coastal waters in

Palilan, Port and Taboo Jimenez.
Taboo station 3, 2, and Port station 2 has greater temperature because of hot degrees below the
water while Palilan station 1 and Taboo station 1 has lesser temperature because of cool degrees
below the water.

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

Salinity (ppt)

Figure 3.Comparison of Salinity(ppt) readings of selected sampling stations of Coastal waters in

Palilan, Port and Taboo Jimenez.
Palilan station 2 , 3 and Taboo station 2 has greater salinity because of far from coastal zone and
pure sea water while Palilan station 1 has lesser salinity because it connected from river.

pH

10

12

Figure 4.Comparison of pH readings of selected sampling stations of Coastal waters in Palilan,

Port and Taboo Jimenez.
Port station 3 has greater PH because it is far from coast which has high acidity of sea water
while Palilan station 1 has lesser PH because of the connected river in Palilan.

Density

1.01

1.01

1.02

1.02

Figure 5.Comparison of Density readings of selected sampling stations of Coastal waters in

Palilan, Port and Taboo Jimenez.
Taboo station 1is greater dense because commercial stablishment through the water while Palilan
station 1 is less dense because it connected to the river which gives less dense.

70

75

80

85

90

95

Figure 6. Comparison of Relative Humidity of selected sampling stations of Coastal waters in

Palilan, Port and Taboo Jimenez.
Taboo station 1, 3, and Palilan station 3 are greater RH because of the amount of water vapor
present from air while Palilan station1 is lesser RH because of lacking of the amount of water
vapor present from air.

Depthness

10

12

14

16

18

20

Figure 7.Comparison of Depthness readings of selected sampling stations of Coastal waters in

Palilan, Port and Taboo Jimenez.
Taboo station 3 is deeper because of commercial stablishment and 30 m away from coastal
while palilan station 1 is less deeper because it is near from coastal zone.

Summary Table
Parameters
Temperature
pH
Salinity
Density
Relative
Humidity
Depthness

Palilan
79
23.15
8.5
3.018
264

Port
83
26.31
14
3.053
263

Taboo
82
24.37
13
3.055
271

Total Average
81.3
24.61
11.8
3.042
266

2.5

4.4

32.8

13.23

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

It can be concluded that the physico-chemical properties of water within the tolerable and were
not harmful to the marine resources. This could provide a good ecosystem to various life forms
that thrive in the area. Residents of all barangays along the coastal area must promote and
advocate in protecting their quality of water through Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR). Regular environment and quality of water monitoring and anti-pollution
laws must be done.

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