ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES TO THE
HYDROLOGY OF SAN PABLO: IMPLICATIONS TO WATER RESOURCES
Jillian T. Roque
Department of Environmental Science
School of Science and Engineering
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
ABSTRACT
Lands in San Pablo are continuously being transformed as a step towards
urbanization. This process of land conversion is effecting changes in the hydrology of
the city. The study provides a descriptive assessment of the impacts of anthropogenic
activities to the surface and groundwater systems of San Pablo City. The methodology
employed involved generating new maps from a Landsat image and aerial photographs
and integrating these outputs with information gathered from previous studies and land
use surveys. Agricultural and built up areas comprise the majority of the land in San
Pablo. Based on the results of the study, the most pressing environmental concern in
San Pablo would be the impacts of anthropogenic activities – particularly agricultural,
residential and commercial activities – to the quality of its surface and groundwater
systems. At present, the most vulnerable to water quality degradation due to
anthropogenic impacts is Sampaloc Lake considering that built up areas consisting
mainly of residential and commercial areas in San Pablo are concentrated around it.
Land and water resource planning and management should be implemented to address
the problem of degrading water quality in Sampalok Lake. The results of this study
should be considered by environmental planners in land and water resources
management and policy makers in decision-making.