A Study on the Fecal Contamination of Cagayan de Oro River along the Upstream (Barangay Bayanga) and the Factors Affecting Contamination, August 2008 – March 2009

The main objective of the study was to determine the extent of fecal contamination in the Cagayan de Oro along Barangay Bayanga. The study was conducted from August 2008 to March 2009. Taking samples of the river was used to identify the presence of fecal coliform in the three different sampling periods done every first week of the month as well as confirm the presence of the indicator organism Escherichia coli in the water samples. A survey was also conducted to determine the possible factors that contributes to the fecal contamination of the river. Multiple Tube Fermentation Technique (MTFT) was used to determine any presence of the said microorganism. It is used in five different sampling periods done every four weeks. Five tubes per dilution was the process used in getting the accurate result. The total fecal coliform values computed showed fluctuating average MPN score from all the samples which exceeded the standard acceptable value set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at 1000 fecal coliform organism/100ml. Bayanga shows a high mean MPN value of 2400 fecal coliform/100ml, followed by a decrease in amount which was 2400 fecal coliform/100ml. The presence of E. coli was also confirmed indicating fecal contamination of the water samples. There are factors that can contribute to river contamination: Disposing animal wastes into the river; Comfort rooms that drain wastes directly into the river, and people who discard human wastes into the river.

 

Keywords - Fecal contamination, E. coli, Cagayan de Oro River, Barangay Bayanga