Physico-Chemical anf Heavy Metal Analysis of Water Samples from Dumacaa and Iyam River in Lucena City

Dumacaa and Iyam Rivers are major waterways of the City of Lucena, Quezon Province, which is connected to the river of Tayabas and is classified as Class C by DENR Administrative Order No. 54 - 1990. Community survey and profiling of settlers of Iyam and Dumacaa Rivers were done on the months of January to March 2012. Surface water samples were collected from April to December 2012 at the designated sampling sites and were analyzed for various physicochemical parameters and presence of heavy metals. The profiles of settlers at the 300-meter parameter where the water samples were taken were also determined. Results suggest that some portions of the rivers are still within normal limits set by DENR and WHO. Except for some parts of the rivers (middle and lower streams) which have high levels of total dissolve solids and conductivity during dry and wet periods of sampling. These abnormal levels could be due to the residential, commercial, and agricultural runoffs and other point sources coming from the upper or middle parts of the rivers. Classified as Class C rivers, Dumacaa and Iyam rivers are only good for industrial water supply and recreational water class II which according to the Philippine Environment Monitor 2003 is acceptable for boating. However, from this view alone, Lucena City’s rivers are not safe. The presence of dissolved solids during wet periods and mercury categorized Dumacaa and Iyam Rivers as polluted.