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Abra River polluted, unfit for human use, says study

BANGUED, Abra — The mighty Abra River, which traces its headwaters to the Mount Data National Park in Mountain Province and Benguet and one of the five largest river systems in the country, is no longer fit for human use because it is now heavily polluted. A study conducted by the Saint Louis University’s College of Engineering’s Applied Research and Development Studies showed that the river, a heritage of the people in this conflict-stricken province, is no longer suitable for human use.

The study entitled, "The Abra River System Water Quality Monitoring," by Josephine Aires Dulay, coordinator of SLU’s environmental research laboratory, which came out in the Northern Luzon Research Journal, stated "except temperature, all parameter readings exceeded allowable limits or did not meet minimum required concentrations defined under Department Administrative Order 34 of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources for rivers classified as AA or public water supply Class I, Class A, public water Class II, or Class B, and recreational water Class I."

The findings indicated the river is heavily polluted, making unfit for domestic use and human consumption. Data sampling for the study, which was started in 2004 and performed on a quarterly basis, showed reliable results that could serve as guide for policy-makers and decision-makers to improve the quality of water of the Abra River - the home of the famous Abra eel.

Water samples were taken at different sites along the Abra River from Mountain Province to the Ilocos and were analyzed in terms of physical-chemical characteristics which include temperature, PH, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrates, lead, mercury, chromium, and cyanide concentrations.

The samples were taken at Guinaoang, Mankayan and Benguet as the control sample, at the mill outlet, tailings dam spillway, Lepanto Bridge, Kayan, Gilangan, Bulaga, Patongkaliw, Banoen, Manabo, Bucay, Bangued, Banaoang, Caoayan, and Santa.

Dulay’s research noted an alarming presence of toxic substances as there were high nitrate concentrations, heavy metals, and cyanides.

Her study attributed the nitrates to fertilizers, domestic and industrial influence, and even animal manure. Heavy metals present in the water samples included lead, mercury, and chromium in concentrations much higher than the allowable limits.

Although metals are naturally present in the environment, the excess is probably due to industrial discharges. Cyanide was also found to have concentrations above the tolerable limits. It is the most common chemical used to extract gold from ores.

Because of the worsening pollution, the Abra River could no longer sustain productive and life-sustaining functions as its assimilation and purifying capacity is greatly hindered, Dulay stated in her research. – Dexter A See