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AN ASSESSMENT OF THE COLIFORM CONTAMINATION IN THE SAMPALOC, CALIBATO AND MOHICAP LAKE WATERS AND SELECTED SPRINGS Marvin R. Rebosura Department of Environmental Science School of Science and Engineering Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Heights, Quezon City ABSTRACT The San Pablo lakes are important bodies of water that are essential to the life of the inhabitants. The lakes are sources of food as well as livelihood. The quality of the lake water is important to the health of fishermen and also to the quality of the aquaculture products. Several springs in the vicinity of the lakes are the primary sources of drinking water. The quality of the spring waters is very critical because fecal contamination can bring about an array of diseases. These water sources were tested for the presence of the coliform group of bacteria, specifically those of the fecal origin. Analyses were done on water samples taken from selected sites for a period of five months. Fecal contamination was determined by using the multiple tube fermentation technique. The results indicated that all lakes and springs are fecally contaminated. All springs did not pass the recommended standard for drinking water. It was observed that the peripheries of the lakes Mohicap and Calibato had a much higher concentration of coliforms than the centers, primarily because of the presence of near-shore residential houses. Coliform concentrations in Sampaloc Lake are higher than the range of the MTF so no conclusion can be made regarding the difference between center and periphery concentrations. The results show that all three lakes are classified as Class C lakes.