KANANGA,Leyte- Water sampling conducted by the regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau(EMB) for the past three years, beginning in 2011, showed that the total suspended solids and total coliform found in Ormoc Bay and its major bodies of water are increasing. This was according to Engr. Carlos Cayanong during the Ormoc Bay Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) Test result conducted on several sampling stations within Ormoc Bay showing the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in some areas exceeded the passing level of maximum of 50mg/ L.
This means that the result of the water sampling conducted last year in seven identified areas have exceeded 50mg/L with high total suspended solids fronting YMCA with recorded 82- 83 mg/L. The portion of Ormoc Bay, specifically the body of water fronting Don Felipe Hotel failed for two sampling conducted last May and June 2012; with total suspended solids of 53 and 56mg/L respectively. Other sampling sites also failed since their total suspended solids exceeded 50mg/L. These include portion of Ormoc Bay in poblacion Merida, portion of the Bay fronting Philmag, Sal’s Beach, Anilao River and poblacion Albuera.
For the test result of the total coliform, it showed that four sampling sites failed due to the fact that the total coliform present in these specific areas have exceeded the passing level of only 5,000 MPN/ 100 ml. This means that the coliform found in these areas are high. These include portion of Ormoc Bay fronting YMCA with 5,400 MPN, Poblacion Merida with 9,200 MPN, Portion of the Bay in Anilao River with 16,000 MPN and Portion of Ormoc Bay fronting Don Felipe Hotel with 16,000 MPN.
Cayanong explained that the there are three parameters in doing the water sampling/ test, these include the physical parameters that tests the temperature, total suspended solids, and total dissolved solids, the biological parameters that checks the level of the fecal coliform, total coliform, and dissolved oxygen, and the chemical parameters that tests the following; acidity, heavy metals, and as well as the presence chemicals such as boron, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, etc. (PR)
