Abstract
Groundwater in karst regions in the Philippines is inhabited by a diverse yet unique aquatic fauna. While this habitat is threatened by anthropogenic disturbances, basic physicochemical information is lacking. Here, we provide the first report of karst groundwater quality based on the characterization and assessment of samples collected from caves. Water samples from seven islands (Bohol, Calicoan, Luzon, Mindanao, Negros Oriental, Panglao, and Samar) were analyzed in order to obtain baseline information about and assess the environmental status of groundwater in karst areas. Although most of the sites showed no evidence of anthropogenic disturbance, excessive amounts of NO2−, NO3−, and Cl− were detected in the samples from a few areas, particularly Panglao Island, Bohol. These pollutants likely originate from human-related activities such as the use of water treatment chemicals, detergents, and bleach, as well as the leakage of septic tanks. Further investigations and in-depth studies aimed at clearly understanding the dynamics of the karst groundwater, thus preventing the aggravation of problems with the groundwater in the future, are highly recommended.
Published Version
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