We all need clean water. People need it to grow crops and to operate factories, and for drinking and recreation. Fish and wildlife depend on it to survive.
Many different pollutants can harm our rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. The three most common are soil, nutrients and bacteria. Rain washes soil into streams and rivers. The soil can kill tiny animals and fish eggs. It can clog the gills of fish and block light so plants die. Nutrients, often from fertilizers, cause problems in lakes, ponds and reservoirs. Nitrogen and phosphorus make algae grow and can turn water green. Bacteria, often from sewage spills, can pollute fresh or salt water.
In the recent studies of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, they added water hyacinth as pest and water pollutant as it invades and chokes up waterways causing flood and problems to the locals and the environment. Further, provide a growing field for mosquitoes and screens off sunlight that is required by aquatic flora and fauna.
Description
Water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial plant that can grow to a height of 3 feet. The dark green leave blades are circular to elliptical in shape attached to a spongy, inflated petiole. Underneath the water is a thick, heavily branched, dark fibrous root system. The water hyacinth has striking light blue to violet flowers located on a terminal spike. Water hyacinth is a very aggressive invader and can form thick mats. If these mats cover the entire surface of the rivers they can cause oxygen depletions and fish kills. Water hyacinths should be controlled so they do not cover most part of the river.
Water hyacinth has no known direct food value to wildlife and is considered a pest species.
Multi-faceted Threats
Water hyacinth can cause a variety of problems when its rapid mat-like reproduces and covers areas of fresh water. Some of these common problems are mentioned below:
1. Hindrance to water transport. Canals and freshwater rivers can become impassable as they clog up with densely intertwined carpets of the weeds.
2. Clogging intakes of irrigation, hydropower and water supply systems. Water hyacinth causes blockages to the flow of electricity, flooding, and equipment damage.
3. Increased disease in the habitat: Malaria, degue, and water borne parasites and other water borne diseases increase as the water hyacinths provide habitats for mosquitoes.
4. Increased evaporation and transpiration of water. It has been discovered that water loss can be as much as 1.8 times that of evaporation from waterways free of these plants.
5. Fishing opportunities: Access to sites becomes difficult when weed infestation is present. Fish populations decrease as water begins to lose oxygen and sunlight. Populations of crocodiles and snakes increase. In areas where fishermen are barely able to sustain themselves from this industry, this is an economic disaster.
6. Reduced biodiversity: When water hyacinth thrives, it out competes other aquatic plants. This causes an imbalance in the micro‐ecosystem resulting in reduced flora and the fauna that depend on it. Localized water quality also deteriorates which may be harmful to people who rely on the waterway for drinking water.
The Bane and Blight of Water Hyacinth
Water bodies like rivers, streams, ponds and lakes in the different parts of the world face threat as water hyacinth flourished. It also increased environmental dreadful conditions and loss of biodiversity.
Here are some reports and studies attributed to the destructions, damages and problems brought by water hyacinth.
In China, water hyacinth has caused serious problems as it covers the rivers, ponds and lakes. According to health authorities, the locals are threatened as it provides breeding places for mosquitoes and flies. Further, police authorities said that water hyacinth creates a public issue for it provides a nice place for criminals to hide.
In Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, authorities said that Water hyacinth is an environmental disaster. Water hyacinth seriously affects the fishing, lake transport and water supply.
In Indonesia, the weed has affected backwater cruises for tourists during the peak tourism season, said Peter Panathara, a tour operator.
Cotabato City and other provinces in southern Philippines are experiencing their worst flooding in years. Authorities are not just blaming it on the weather or poor flood control. They are pointing instead at plants that feed off polluted waters, the colorful water hyacinths. It was added that the seemingly aquatic plant in Rio Grande de Mindanao – the country’s second largest river system – threatens to submerge parts of Cotabato City in six-foot deep floodwaters. Thus, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) considers water hyacinths as pests.
In Pampanga, the Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor of a Netherland-based humanitarian organization said that the severe flooding in the Pampanga river basin is not only due to extreme weather events associated with climate change but also to the uncontrolled growth of water hyacinths which form dense mats on the surface of the waterways, thus obstructing the flow of waterways.
In Mabolo, Naga City and Milaor Camarines Sur, the Bikol River were covered with large amount of water hyacinth when Typhoo Pedring hit the place thus impeded the water passages that caused flood to some low lying areas in Naga especially Mabolo and the adjacent municipality, Milaor which is considered the water basin of Camarines Sur.
The Boons and Fortune Things of Water Hyacinth
Water hyacinth is seen as an invasive pest and is responsible to many problems summarized earlier, thus, many locals, groups, organizations, local government units and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources conducted researches and studies on the benefits that can get from this plant.
Along their journey, they have found out that the stem, leaves and flowers can be made into different materials. Below are the products made from water hyacinth.
1. Paper and Yarn. In Bangladesh, they experimented with paper production from water hyacinth for some years now. They have established this project that makes paper from the water hyacinth stems. The water hyacinth fiber alone does not make particularly good paper but when the fiber is blended with waste paper or jute, the result is a good quality paper.
The fiber from the stems of the water hyacinth plant can be used to make rope. The stalk of the plant is shredded lengthways to expose the fibers and then left to dry for several days.
2. Fiberboard. In Dhaka, they developed a fiberboard that has general purpose uses such as low cost roofing. The process has many steps and the labor is intensive.
3. Basket work: In the Philippines and India, water hyacinth is dried and used to make baskets and matting for homes and the local tourist trade.
4. Fertilizers. Water hyacinth can be used directly from harvesting or dried to be used to mix with the soil or as mulch. It breaks down quickly and can be mixed with ash, other soils and some animal manure to increase soil fertility and crop yield.
5. Fish feed: Tilapia and silver carp consume aquatic weeds, like water hyacinth.
Hopeful Development: An Interview
Mrs. Nancy Talay, an entrepreneur and a resident of Milaor, Camarines Sur related the sad story her family experienced whenever a typhoon struck Bikol Region.
She told us that Milaor, Camarines Sur is considered the water reservoir of Camarines Sur, as a consequence, it took one-week for the flood to subside. Along with the overflowing water, trash and water hyacinth were floating in the community. She added that her house is enveloped with this plant and it took her time to remove it.
In an occasion, the Department of Trade and Industry invited her to attend a seminar on basket works made from water hyacinth. She thought that this was one best solution in setting out water hyacinth in Milaor, Camarines Sur. Further, this innovative undertaking informed people of its advantage and benefit.
Now, she gathered and collected the water hyacinth in her place and in Bikol River.
She hopes that people will patronize water hyacinth products in order to contribute in the proper way of disposing it.
Hon. Magno T. Reyes, Barangay Captain of Barangay Mabolo, Naga City, shared his story in coming up with the production of green charcoal.
He told us that as he looked at the window of his office (situated near Mabolo River); what he saw at all times was large mass of water hyacinth floating at the Mabolo River. It clogged the passage way which resulted flood to some areas of the barangay. It had been an agendum in its monthly session how the council can eliminate this water hyacinth to minimize the flood in the barangay.
They aired this problem to Hon. John Bongat, the Mayor of Naga City. The city government allocated an amount to procure equipment in charcoal briquetting. Now, the fabrication of green charcoal is managed by the Barangay Council of MAbolo. Some residents of Naga City were using green charcoal in cooking and ironing.
The Barangay Council of Mabolo and the city government look forward to using green charcoal. In this novelty, they contribute to lessen overflow of water not only in Mabolo River but the Bikol River.
