Layawan River, Polanco, Zamboanga Del Norte, Philippines: Resource utilization, environmental issues and water quality

The Layawan River is a vital freshwater ecosystem in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. The Integrated Watershed Management Plan of Layawan River targets to establish conservation and protection efforts. However, information crucial for its management and conservation remains scarce. This study assessed the resource utilization, environmental issues and water quality along the lower reaches of Lawayan River in Polanco. The river supports subsistence fisheries and sand-gravel quarry industry and provides water for agricultural (irrigation) and domestic (cleaning, washing clothes, and bathing) use. Along with its contribution to the community lies the associated threats it faces. It is mainly threatened by unregulated disposal of garbage, sand and gravel quarry, and open defecation. While majority of the water quality parameters passed the national standard, concerns arise with its high phosphates, total suspended solids (TSS) and total coliform counts. Phosphates readings from 0.099 to 0.144 mg/L failed the 0.025 mg/L threshold, indicating excessive nutrients. TSS values reached up to 109 mg/L, exceeding the 50 mg/L limit. Total coliform counts ranging from 3,700 to 35,000 MPN/100 mL are appalling, indicating potentially extreme fecal contamination and posing health risk to the public. Efforts for sustainable management of Layawan River should focus on strict implementation and enforcement of environmental laws (e.g., R.A. 9275 Clean Water Act; R.A. 9003 Ecological Solid Waste Management), monitoring of water quality, IEC campaigns to raise the level of awareness and participation of the community, reforestation of riparian zones, and mitigation measures to address the potential health risk to the public. published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES