Fecal coliform (MPN) and water quality parameters of coastal waters in Boracay Island: A correlational and predictive study

Abstract

Water quality monitoring is the basic reference in securing safe waters for either drinking or recreation. It is also serves as reference for successful coastal and land management. All water recreational sites are required to monitor the water quality if it is meeting its designated use. The water must maintain the guideline values for its classification, may it be safe for swimming. The water quality is used for the management plan of the concerned area and serve as a guide whether to institute management intervention to improve the water quality. Triplicates of water samples were collected monthly for six months in the three station of the Boracay Island. The water samples were analyzed for fecal coliform, pH, total suspended solids, phosphate, nitrate, and oil and grease. Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature were analyzed in situ. The sampling points where the water samples were gathered were geotagged for the development of the fecal coliform GIS density map. Tourist arrival and rainfall data was also gathered. Based on the regression analysis, there was a low correlation between fecal coliform and other water quality parameters such as oil and grease, phosphates, and nitrates. However, the model shows that with increasing oil and grease, phosphates, and nitrates, fecal coliform count is also increasing.