Republic of the Philippines

NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES BOARD

DEVELOPMENT OF GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT PLAN
FOR MASBATE CITY AND
SURROUNDING AREAS

02 AUGUST 2022

2
 National Water Resources Board (NWRB)
Water Resources Assessment for Bicol River Basin

MONITORING
NETWORK DESIGN
Adorable B. Jacinto
Head, Water Resources Engineering Dept., Woodfields Consultants Inc.
 OVERVIEW

Objectives

Criteria for selection of Monitoring Station

Existing Monitoring Stations

Design of Surface Water Monitoring Network

Design of Groundwater Monitoring Network

 OBJECTIVE

The component of the study aims to formulate a sustainable water monitoring

network plan (WMNP) that can track changes in the sector of (a) groundwater, (b)
surface water (streamflow); and (c) water quality.

The primary objective of the establishment of monitoring network particularly the

GW monitoring stations, is to have a long-term GW data that can be used for
future calibration of the developed GW model especially in areas where there is a
gap in terms of well data. The model requires calibration to strengthen its reliability
so that it can be used for water allocation in the future once a well calibrated
model was established with the help of long-term GW data. This is a
consideration in the strategic placement of monitoring stations to address the gaps
in the limited data provided by existing wells and other sources.
SURFACE WATER MONITORING
SITE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR SURFACE WATER
MONITORING STATIONS

• The ideal gage site satisfies the following criteria as stated in the WMO
Manual on Stream Gaging Volume I, which is consistent with USGS
many of which are defined in ISO 1100-1 and adopted by different
countries around the world.

• The general location for the gage will be the reach of channel between
two large tributary or confluent streams. The gage should be far enough
downstream from the upper tributary so that flow is fairly uniformly
established across the entire width of stream; and far enough upstream
from the lower steam confluence to avoid variable backwater effect.
 SITE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR SURFACE WATER
MONITORING STATIONS

The ideal gage site satisfies the following criteria

A. The general course of the stream is straight for about 10 times the stream width,
upstream and downstream from the gage site if the control is a river reach (channel
control). If the control is a section control, the downstream conditions must be such
that the control is not drowned. The water entering a section control should have low
velocity;
B. The total flow is confined to one channel at all stages and no flow bypasses the site as
subsurface flow;
C. The streambed is not subject to scour and fill and is relatively free of aquatic
vegetation;
D. Banks are permanent, high enough to contain floods, and are free of brush;
E. Unchanging natural controls are present in the form of a bedrock outcrop or other
stable riffle for low flow and a channel constriction for high flow – or a waterfall or
cascade that is unsubmerged at all stages. If a natural control is not available, then
channel conditions should allow for the construction of an artificial control such as
weir or flume;
 SITE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR SURFACE WATER
MONITORING STATIONS

F. A pool is present upstream from the control at extremely low stages to ensure a
recording of stage at extremely low flow. The sensitivity of the control should be such
that any significant change in discharge should result in a measurable change in stage;

G. A gage site is far enough upstream from the confluence with another stream or from
tidal effect to avoid any variable influence the other stream or the tide may have on the
stage at the gage site;

H. A satisfactory reach for measuring discharge at all stages is available within reasonable
proximity of the gage site. It is not necessary for low and high flows to be measured at
the same stream cross-sections;

I. The site is readily accessible for ease in installation and operation of the gaging
station;

J. Within reach of a suitable telemetry system, for future development.

EXISTING SURFACE WATER MONITORING STATIONS

Location Coordinates Type Status

*

Latitude Longitude

Banadero Bridge, Brgy. Tabuc, 12.3269 123.6638 Water Level Monitoring System N/O
Mobo (Banadero River)

Mobo Municipal Hall, Mobo 12.3352 123.6583 Automated Rain Gauge (ARG) N/O

Masbate, Masbate 12.2851 123.5505 Automated Weather Stations (AWS) N/O

LGU Aroroy Municipal Hall, Aroroy 12.0147 123.8858 Automated Rain Gauge (ARG) O

Debemscat, Mandaon, Mandaon 12.2803 123.3555 Automated Weather Stations O

(AWS)
Existing Surface Water Monitoring Stations in Masbate Island
Existing Surface Water Monitoring Stations and Granted Water Permits
PROPOSED SURFACE WATER MONITORING STATIONS
Proposed Design of Surface Water Monitoring Network Design for Masbate
Proposed Surface Water Monitoring Stations vs. Granted Surface Water Permits
 Proposed Surface Water Monitoring
PARAMETERS AND FREQUENCIES
Hydrological and Meteorological
Frequency Environmental Parameter Frequency
Parameter

Water Level (m) Hourly, Daily, Monthly Temperature (oC) Quarterly

Discharge Velocity (m/s) Hourly, Daily, Monthly Acidity/Alkalinity (pH) Quarterly

Discharge Volume(m3/s) Hourly, Daily, Monthly Conductivity (μS/cm) Quarterly

Rainfall/Precipitation (mm/day) Hourly, Daily, Monthly Dissolved Oxygen, DO (mg/L) Quarterly

Biological Oxygen Demand,
Humidity Hourly, Daily, Monthly Quarterly
BOD(mg/L)
Coliform, Total and Fecal (mpn
Evapotranspiration Rate Hourly, Daily, Monthly Quarterly
col/100 ml)
Atmospheric Temperature (oC) Hourly, Daily, Monthly Heavy Metals Suite (Pb, Sb, Cd) Quarterly

    Metals Suite (Cu, Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, Cr) Quarterly

    Total Dissolved Solids, TDS (g/L) Quarterly

    Total Suspended Solids, TSS (g/L) Quarterly

    Turbidity (NTU) Quarterly

    Phosphate, Nitrate, Sulfate (NPK) Quarterly

    Organic Pesticides (mg/L) Quarterly

    Oil and Grease (mg/L) Quarterly

 Measurement of Gage Height

Staff gages at a non-recording Streamflow Monitoring Station

 Measurement of Gage Height

Solar Panel

Water Level Sensor

Control Box

Automated Water Level Monitoring Station

 Measurement of Discharge

Discharge Measurement Using Mechanical

Current Meter

Discharge Measurement Using acoustic Doppler current

profilers
GROUNDWATER MONITORING
 SITE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR GROUNDWATER
MONITORING STATIONS

 The site selection criteria for groundwater monitoring locations were drawn up
in accordance with the result of vulnerability assessment and post-processing
of results of georeferenced information from the Study and correlated with
field information when available.
 Areas with high drawdown/extraction rate – Production wells with high
extraction rate, as well as well fields clustered in an area adjacent to each
other, needs to be subject to monitoring to determine the impact of well
operations to the overall groundwater condition in its surroundings. Such wells
may develop wide and deep cones of depression that may affect the SWL,
groundwater flow regimes, as well as potentially aggravate the spread of
groundwater pollution if adjacent to a polluting entity.
 SITE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR GROUNDWATER
MONITORING STATIONS

 Site selection criteria as proposed by Sundaram (2009):

• Areas with low Hydraulic Gradient - Regions with low hydraulic gradient
initially defined in the models of the study can be considered for monitoring.
In the absence of reports indicating such areas have experienced loss or
reduction of groundwater supply in the past, such areas may become
susceptible to future effects of prolonged dry seasons as a consequence of
climate change.
• Areas with redevelopment and urbanization – Urbanizing areas may
contribute to an increase in unregistered groundwater extraction, as well as
contamination and pollution of the groundwater resource in the absence of
efficient wastewater treatment. Redevelopment and rezoning of areas for a
different land use other than open areas or agriculture may have an impact on
recharge conditions in the affected area.
 PROPOSED GROUNDWATER MONITORING STATIONS

For the new monitoring wells, the following must be taken into consideration:
For water level monitoring:
• Wells with known coordinates and locations.
• Existing non-operational wells with known depth and minor design.
• Distances among wells to be observed should be a minimum of 500 meters.
• Access opening for the measuring device of the water level indicator is sufficient
in size and available for the probes to get in; and
• Wells may be available for long-term observation of water levels.
 
 PROPOSED GROUNDWATER MONITORING STATIONS

Water Quality Monitoring

• Wells are operational.
• The construction details and depths of wells are known
• Location of wells are known and plotted on maps with coordinates; and
• Wells are available for long-term observations and/or in-situ tests.

To reduce the cost of building new monitoring wells for the study area, existing
wells which are not used for production with nominal groundwater levels and
are located near the proposed sites for monitoring wells may also be used. On
the other hand, production wells near the proposed sites for the monitoring
network may also be utilized for the water quality monitoring.
Location Map of Existing Wells in Masbate Island as of January 2020

No. Location Latitude Longitude Purpose

1 Bo. Syndicate, Aroroy 12.4775 123.3906 Domestic

2 Bo. Syndicate, Aroroy 12.4758 123.3889 Domestic

3 Bo. Syndicate, Aroroy 12.4769 123.3892 Domestic

4 Bo. Syndicate, Aroroy 12.4764 123.3892 Domestic

5 Bo. Syndicate, Aroroy 12.4775 123.3897 Domestic

6 Brgy. San Vicente, Cawayan 11.9392 123.7713 Industrial

7 Brgy. Malinta, Masbate City 12.3317 123.5644 Irrigation

8 Brgy, Malinta, Masbate City 12.3261 123.5625 Irrigation

9 Brgy. Pinamalatican, Mobo 12.3044 123.6556 Municipal

10 Brgy. Pinamalatican, Mobo 12.3000 123.6533 Municipal

11 Brgy. Pinamalatican, Mobo 12.3008 123.6494 Municipal

12 Brgy. Pinamalatican, Mobo 12.2958 123.6444 Municipal

13 Brgy. Mandali, Mobo 12.3139 123.6561 Municipal

14 Brgy. Mandali, Mobo 12.3167 123.6656 Municipal

15 Brgy. Magsaysay, Uson 12.1756 123.8028 Irrigation

16 Brgy. Magsaysay, Uson 12.1758 123.8047 Irrigation

Existing Wells in Masbate Island with Water Permits
 Proposed Monitoring Stations
No. Location City/Municipality Longitude Latitude
1 Tinigbagan National Highschool Aroroy 123.259 12.502
2 School Aroroy 123.348 12.541
3 Aroroy Municipal Hall Aroroy 123.396 12.512
4 Panique Hall Aroroy 123.392 12.457
5 Luy-a National Highschool Aroroy 123.407 12.412
6 Lanang Elementary School Aroroy 123.373 12.431
7 Brgy San Agustin Aroroy 123.330 12.450
8 Bugtong Brgy Hall Aroroy 123.268 12.344
9 Brgy Managana Aroroy 123.385 12.375
10 Brgy Bat-ongan Mandaon 123.364 12.316
11 Brgy Cabitan Mandaon 123.339 12.295
12 Brgy Espinosa Baleno 123.414 12.319
13 Brgy Hall Baleno 123.450 12.363
14 Paraiso Elementary School Milagros 123.431 12.209
15 Barangay Health Service Paraiso Milagros 123.399 12.228
16 Yaneza Landed Estate Elementary School Mandaon 123.281 12.186
17 San Juan Elementary School Milagros 123.362 12.170
18 Pinamancaan Elementary School Mandaon 123.269 12.112
19 Calumpang Barangay Hall Balud 123.167 11.907
20 Balud Municipal College Balud 123.192 12.038
21 Tonga Elementary School Balud 123.237 12.068
22 Baleno Municipal Hall Baleno 123.498 12.473
23 Mapina Elementary School Masbate City 123.525 12.383
24 Cawayan Multipurpose Building Masbate City 123.589 12.392
25 Biyong Elementary School Masbate City 123.540 12.334
26 Milagros West Central School Milagros 123.509 12.224
27 Usab Elementary School Masbate City 123.559 12.313
28 Brgy. Tigbao Milagros 123.587 12.152
29 Mapuyo Multipurpose Hall Mobo 123.629 12.240
30 LaLuna Elementary School Mobo 123.690 12.304
31 Sawang Elemenraty School Uson 123.756 12.232
32 Buenavista Central School Uson 123.821 12.215
33 Nabuhay Elementary School Uson 123.722 12.176
34 Brgy Matagbac Milagros 123.665 12.113
35 Pulot Elementary School Cawayan 123.718 12.069
36 Panan awan Elementary School Cawayan 123.693 12.027
No. Location City/Municipality Longitude Latitude

37 Candelaria Elementary School Cawayan 123.737 12.101

38 Brgy Del Rosario Uson 123.792 12.158
39 Balantay Brgy Hall Dimasalang 123.839 12.149
40 Brgy Sta Cruz Plaza Palanas 123.896 12.161
41 Brgy Hall Palanas 123.917 12.130
42 Brgy Biga-a Hall Palanas 123.911 12.090
43 School Palanas 123.855 12.074
44 F. Jumao-as Elementary School Cawayan 123.801 12.032
45 Dalipe Elementary School Cawayan 123.738 12.011
46 Brgy. Camayabsan Placer 123.795 11.923
47 Luna Eleementary School Placer 123.866 11.904
48 Placer Municipal Placer 123.919 11.872
49 San Roque Court Esperanza 123.994 11.836
50 Libertad Primary School Esperanza 124.054 11.743
51 Pio V Corpuz Central School Pio V. Cruz 124.047 11.884
52 Curvada Elementary School Cataingan 123.968 11.977
53 Doroteo B Presno Elem School Placer 123.923 11.942
54 Osmena Elem School Cataingan 123.901 12.007
55 Intusan Elem School Cataingan 123.938 12.066
56 Amotag Elementary School Aroroy 123.267 12.377
Proposed Groundwater Monitoring Network Design for Masbate
 Proposed Groundwater Water Monitoring
PARAMETERS AND FREQUENCIES

Hydrogeological Parameter Frequency Environmental Parameter Frequency

Static Water Level (m) Daily Temperature (oC) Quarterly

Drawdown (m) Bi-monthly Acidity/Alkalinity (pH) Quarterly
Groundwater Yield (m/s) Quarterly Conductivity( μS/cm) Quarterly
Transmissivity (m2/s) Quarterly Dissolved Oxygen, DO (mg/L) Quarterly
Coliform, Total and Fecal (mpn
Recharge Rate (m/s) Quarterly Quarterly
col/100ml)
    Turbidity (NTU) Quarterly
    Heavy Metals Suite (Pb, Sb, Cd) Quarterly
    Metals Suite (Cu, Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, Cr) Quarterly
    Total Dissolved Solids, TDS (g/L) Quarterly
    Total Suspended Solids, TSS (g/L) Quarterly
    Phosphate, Nitrate, Sulfate (NPK) Quarterly
    Organic Pesticides (mg/L) Quarterly
    Oil and Grease (mg/L) Quarterly
Proposed Well Design

Total Depth (m)

= 150.00
Casing Diameter (mm)
= 150.00
Borehole Diameter (mm)
= 300.00
Grout Sealing
= 0-15 meters from the ground
surface
Intake Structures
= Sump Pipe
 Water Level Indicator/Measuring Device and
Water Quality Monitoring Equipment

Source: https://www.directindustry.com

Field Test Kit

Source: https://www.solinst.com

Water Level Meter

Source: https://www.directindustry.com

Discrete Water Sampler

 RECOMMENDATIONS

The following are the recommendations that will be part of the medium- and long-
term plans of the management plan and can be the basis for the formulation of
engineering policy in the Masbate Island:
a. Improvement and Enhancement of Hydrological Observation and
Recording System. The valuable active and historical data that will be
collected can provide aid to future policies, support plans that will allow
adaptation of the Region to climate change impacts, as well as implementation
of compliance by all stakeholders and users to maintain and improve the
quality of water cannot be understated.
b. Proper maintenance and programmed upgrade of observation systems. The
installation of upgraded systems accompanied by regular maintenance
significantly reduce the incidence and erroneous data, and in telemetered
systems, these can immediately provide time-critical data when extreme events
occur such as flooding, drought, and even earthquakes and landslides which can
disturb critical aquifer systems that provide water supply across the Masbate
Island.
 RECOMMENDATIONS

c. The collected data from the proposed monitoring station and the initial
conditions developed from this study should be kept in a database system.
The compiled historical data can provide guidance to policy and decision-
making bodies in designing and implementing adaptive measures to address
short and long-term groundwater contamination in addition to managing the
water resources.
d. Stable monitoring and data logging equipment maybe allowed for remote
access to all concerned agencies to be able to provide real-time data that can be
shared to other agencies utilizing the same information for management,
surveillance and other purposes.
e. The impact of ever-changing Land use. The spatial changes across the
landscape of Masbate island affecting the identified aquifer-productive regions
and interconnected recharge areas over time should be given consideration and
be included as part of the monitoring program.
 RECOMMENDATIONS

f. Maps of the parameters monitored (i.e water quality parameters) should be

made to provide visual representation of the collected data and to help the
concerned agencies (i.e Local and National Government agencies) to develop
policies and ground water management plan in the Masbate Island.
g. Regular visits to monitoring stations (existing and new) are recommended to
observe actual conditions of these areas. This can be undertaken simultaneously
with integrity checks to observation equipment, especially on telemeter-enabled
systems.
h. Regular coordination with other agencies such as Fertilizer and Pesticide
Authority (FPA), the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Solid Waste
Management Bureau (SWMB), Department of Energy (DOE) and MGB is
strongly recommended for a stringent implementation and adherence to water
quality monitoring standards by water users, communities, institutions and
companies.
Thank you!