RA 9275

“The Philippine Clean Water Act of

2004”
 As early as 1996, monitoring of the country’s rivers showed that only 51%
of the classified rivers still met the standards for their most beneficial use.
The rest were already polluted from domestic, industrial and agricultural
sources.
 Most studies point to the fact that domestic wastewater is the principal
cause of organic pollution (at 48%) of our water bodies. Yet, only 3% of
investments in water supply and sanitation were going to sanitation and
sewage treatment.
 A World Bank report pointed out that Metro Manila was second to the
lowest in sewer connections among major cities in Asia and less than 7%
compared to 20% for Katmandu, Nepal and 30% for Dhaka, Bangladesh.
 Thirty-one percent (31%) of all illnesses in the country are attributed to
polluted waters.
Improper Wastewater Management:
Environmental Impacts

3
Improper Wastewater Management:
Health Impacts

4
WHO estimates that every dollar invested for sanitation services
generates $3 to $34 economic benefits
 Sources of Pollution
• Point Sources -any identifiable
source of pollution with
specific point of discharge into
a particular water body

• Non-point Sources - any

source of pollution not
identifiable as point source to
include, but not be limited to,
runoff from irrigation or
rainwater which picks up
pollutants from farms and
urban areas
Watershed-based
Concept
 Background
• Philippine Clean Water Act (RA 9275) was enacted
on March 16, 2004 and published on April 21 ,2004
and subsequently took effect on May 6, 2004
• Implementing Rules and Regulations of the PCWA
of 2004 was approved by the Secretary on May 16,
2005 and published last May 26, 2005 under DAO
2005-10 series of 2005 (Manila Times and Manila
Standard Today)
Coverage of the Act
This Act shall apply to water quality management in all water
bodies:
Provided, That it shall primarily apply to the abatement and
control of pollution from land based sources:
Provided, further, That the water quality standards and
regulations and the civil liability and penal provisions under
this Act shall be enforced irrespective of sources of pollution.
 Overview
Chapter 1 - General Provisions
Chapter 2 - Water Quality Management System
Article 1
 Sec. 5 - Designation of Water Quality Management Area (WQMA)
 Sec. 6 – Management of Non-attainment Areas
 Sec. 7 – National Sewerage and Septage Management Program
 Sec. 8 – Domestic Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal
 Sec. 9 – National Water Quality Management Fund
 Sec. 10 – The Area Water Quality Management Fund
 Sec. 11 – Water Quality Variance for Geothermal and Oil and Gas
Exploration
 Sec. 12- Categories of Industry Sector
Overview
Chapter 2 - Water Quality Management System
Article 2 – Water Pollution Permits and Charges
 Sec. 13 – Wastewater Charge System
 Sec. 14 – Discharge Permit

Article 3 – Financial Liability Mechanism

 Sec. 15 – Financial Liability for Environmental Rehabilitation
 Sec. 16 – Clean-up Operations
 Sec. 17 – Programmatic Environmental Impact Assessment
 Sec. 18 – Environmental Impact Assessment System
Programmatic Compliance with Water Quality Standards
Overview
Chapter 3 – Institutional Mechanism
 Sec. 19 – Lead Agency
 Sec. 20 – Role of Local Government Units
 Sec. 21 – Business and Industry Role in
Environmental Management
 Sec. 22 – Linkage Mechanism
 Sec. 23 – Requirement of Record Keeping, Authority
for Entry to Premises and Access to Documents
 Sec. 24 – Pollution Research and Development
Programs
Overview
Chapter 4 – Incentives
 Sec. 25 – Rewards
 Sec. 26 – Incentives Scheme
Chapter 5 - Civil Liability and Penal Provisions
 Sec. 27 - Prohibited Acts
 Sec. 28 - Fines, Damages and Penalties
 Sec. 29 – Administrative Sanctions against Non-
Compliance with the Water Quality
Management Area Action Plan
Overview
Chapter 6 – Actions
 Sec. 30 – Administrative Action
Chapter 7 – Final Provisions
 Sec. 31 - Appropriations
 Sec. 32 – Implementing Rules and Regulations
 Sec. 33 – Joint Congressional Oversight Committee
 Sec. 34 – Repealing Clause
 Sec. 35 - Separability Clause
 Sec. 36 - Effectivity
Sec. 5 - Designation of Water Quality Management
Area (WQMA)
Objectives of WQMA designation
water quality management interventions
improve the water quality and/or preserve the condition

Davao River – DENR Administrative Order 2013-04

Talomo River – DENR Administrative Order 2016-17
Naboc River (WQMA Designation)
Coastal Waters of IGACOS (WQMA Designation)
Davao Gulf- Digos City to Tagum City (WQMA Designation)
Davao River Water Quality
Management Area
DAO 2013-04
24 January 2013

Talomo River Water Quality

Management Area
DAO 2016-17
21 June 2016
Sec. 7 – National Sewerage and Septage
Management Program
• DPWH is mandated to prepare and National Sewerage
and Septage Management Program
• LGU are tasked of the following
– Enactment of septage/ sewerage management
ordinance
– Appropriation of land for the construction of
septage treatment facilities
– Secure access/ road right of way for the septage
treatment facilities project
Opportunities for LGUs
NSSMP Amendments
Original Program Approved Amendments
1. Equivalent to 40% of total 1. 50% subsidy for sewerage,
project cost septage and combined
2. Exclusive for sewerage sewerage-septage projects
projects 2. Target beneficiaries: 17 HUCs,
3. Target beneficiaries: 17 Highly non-HUCs and 1st class
Urbanized Cities (HUCs) municipalities
outside Metro Manila
For Region XI, LGU Tagum City has already sent
their intent letter for the availment of the grant
and subsequently DPWH Central already made
a reply.
Sec. 8 – Domestic Sewage Collection,
Treatment and Disposal
• In not HUCs areas, septage management system
shall be employed. DOH shall formulate a guideline
for the collection, transport and disposal of sewage.
• Local Water Utilities shall be responsible for the
sewerage facilities. In case there is no existing line,
Water Utility may adopt septage management
program of other sanitation alternative.
• In areas with no water districts, the LGU shall
employ septage management program.
Department of Health

Rules and Regulations Governing the

Collection, Handling, Transport,
Treatment and Disposal of Domestic
Sludge and Septage”

Date approved: May 4, 2004

Prevailing issues
• Presence of unregistered “Night soilers”
• Disposal area of excavated septage
• Regulation mechanism
Possible Solution
• Enactment of Septage and Sewerage Management
Ordinance
• Cosntruction of Septage Treatment Plant
Sec. 12 - Categories of Industry Sector

List of categories of industry sector for which

effluent standards will be provided for each
significant wastewater parameter per industry
sector

Table 8 of DAO 2016-08 provides the list of

Significant Parameter per Industry Sector
Article 2: Wastewater Charge System
Sec. 13 - Water Pollution Permits and Charges
• Wastewater Charge System
Wastewater charges shall be established taking into consideration the
following:
(a) To provide strong economic inducement for polluters to modify their
production or management processes or to invest in pollution control
technology in order to reduce the amount of water pollutants
generated;
(b) To cover the cost of administering water quality management or
improvement programs;
(c) Reflect damages caused by water pollution on the surrounding
environment, including the cost of rehabilitation;
(d) Type of pollutant;
(e) Classification of the receiving water body; and
(f) Other special attributes of the water
Sec. 14 - Discharge Permit
● The Dept. shall require owners or operators of facilities that
discharged regulated effluents to secure a permit to discharge.

● DP shall be the legal authorization granted by the Dept to

discharge wastewater.

● DP shall specify the quantity and quality of effluents the

permittee is allowed to discharge and the validity of permit.

Who shall File for a WDP

Any person that shall discharge in any manner wastewater into
Philippine waters and / or land
 How will discharges of wastewater be controlled?

 Permitting System

 quantity & quality of effluents the

permittee is allowed to discharge
 Posting of permit
 Self-Monitoring Report (SMR)
requirement
Allow entry or inspection
 Validity of permit
 What are the grounds for suspension or
revocation of WDP?
 Non-compliance or gross violation of any provision of the
Act, its IRR and/or permit conditions;
 Deliberate or negligent submission of false information in
the application that led to the issuance of permit;
 Deliberate or negligent submission of false monitoring
data or report required in the WDP;
 Refusal to allow lawful inspection of authorized staff of
the Dept;
 Non-payment of WDF within a 30-day grace period from
date such payment is due
What is the effect of disapproval of WDP application or
suspension/revocation of WDP?
Shall not grant any right or privilege to the applicant or
permit holder to discharge its wastewater into any
water body and/or land

Any discharge shall be ground for Cease and Desist

Order (CDO)
 What shall be done if the permittee experiences
plant operational problems?
EMB-RO shall be notified within 24 hours from
occurrence of such problem/breakdown

Within 7 days from notification, a report shall be

submitted to EMB-RO stating the cause(s) of problem,
undertakings to solve the problem, estimated duration
of breakdown and the reconstruction or repair
Chapter 3 – Institutional Mechanism
Sec. 19 – Lead Agency (DENR)

• 19.5 – Water Quality Guidelines

• 19.6 – Effluent Standard

DENR Administrative Order 2016-08,

Water Quality Guidelines and General
Effluent Standards of 2016
• 19.7 - Procedure for sampling and analysis of
pollutants

EMB MC 2008-08 Volume 2, Effluent

Monitoring Manual

EMB MC 2016-012 EMB Approved Method

of Analysis for Water and Wastewater
Sec. 20 – Role of LGUs
Local government units shall share the responsibility in the management and improvement
of water quality within their territorial
jurisdictions.
Each local government unit shall, through its Environment and Natural Resources Office
(ENRO) established in Republic Act No. 7160, have the following powers and functions:

a)Monitoring of water quality;

b) Emergency response;
c) Compliance with the framework of the Water Quality Management Action Plan;
d) To take active participation in all efforts concerning water quality protection and rehabilitation; and
e) To coordinate with other government agencies and civil society and the concerned sectors in the
implementation of measures to prevent and control water pollution: Provided, however, That in
provinces/cities/municipalities where there are no environment and natural resources officers, the
local executive concerned may, with the approval of the Secretary of the DENR designate any of his
official and/or chief of office preferably the provincial, city or municipal agriculturist, or any of his
employee: Provided, finally, That in case an employee is designated es such, he must have sufficient
experience in environmental and natural resources management, conservation and utilization.
Sec. 27 - Prohibited Acts
What are the prohibited acts under RA 9275?
 Discharging, depositing or
causing to be deposited
material of any kind directly or
indirectly into the water bodies
or along the margins of any
surface water, where, the same
shall be liable to be washed
into such surface water, either
by tide action or by storm,
floods or otherwise, which
could cause water pollution or
impede natural flow in the
water body;
What are the prohibited acts under RA 9275?
 Discharging, injecting or allowing to seep into the
soil or sub-soil any substance in any form that
would pollute groundwater.

 Operating facilities that discharge regulated water

pollutants without the valid required permits or
after the permit was revoked for any violation of
any condition therein;

 Disposal of potentially infectious medical waste

into sea water by vessels unless the health or
safety of individuals on board the vessel is
threatened by a great and imminent peril;
What are the prohibited acts under RA 9275?
Unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of
sewage sludge or solid waste

Transport, dumping or discharge of prohibited

chemicals, substances or pollutants listed under RA
6969

Discharging regulated water pollutants without the

valid required discharge permit pursuant to this Act

Non-compliance of the LGU with the Water Quality

Framework and Management Area Action Plan
What are the prohibited acts under RA 9275?

Refusal to allow entry, inspection and monitoring

as well as access to reports and records by the
DENR in accordance with this Act

Refusal or failure to submit reports and/or

designate pollution control officers whenever
required by the DENR in accordance with this Act

Directly using booster pumps in the distribution

system or tampering with the water supply in such
a way to alter or impair the water quality
What are the prohibited acts under RA 9275?
Operate facilities that discharge or allow
to seep, willfully or through grave
negligence, prohibited chemicals,
substances, or pollutants listed under RA
6969,into water bodies

Undertake activities/development and

expansion of projects, or operating
wastewater treatment/sewerage facilities
in violation of PD 1586 and its IRR
What are the fines and penalties imposed on
polluters?
Any person who fine of not less than Php
violates provision of 10,000 but not more than
this Act and its IRR Php 200,000 every day of
violation
Failure to undertake  imprisonment of not less
clean-up operations than two years and not
willfully, or more than four years; and
through gross  fine of not less than Php
negligence 50,000 and not more than
Php 100,000 per day of
violation
What are the fines and penalties imposed on
polluters?

Failure or refusal imprisonment of not

to clean up which less than 6 years and
results in serious 1 day and not more
injury or loss of life than 12 years; and
or lead to fine of Php
irreversible water 500,000/day for each
contamination of day the
surface, ground, contamination or
coastal and marine omission continues
water
What are the fines and penalties imposed on
polluters?

In cases of gross a fine of not less

violation than Php 500,000
but not more than
Php 3,000,000 will
be imposed for
each day of
violation
criminal charges
may also be filed
DENR Administrative Order 2016-08:
Water Quality Guidelines and General
Effluent Standards of 2016
Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent
Standards of 2016
• Section 1 – Basic Policy
• Section 2 – Objectives
• Section 3 – Scope and Coverage
• Section 4 – Definition of Terms
• Section 5 – Classification of Waterbodies
• Section 6 – Water Quality Guidelines (WQS)
• Section 7 – General Effluent Standard (GES)
• Section 8 – Modification of WQS and GES
• Section 9 – Periodic Review
• Section 10 – Grace Period
• Section 11 – Prohibitions
• Section 12 – Fines and Damages
• Section 13 – Separability Clause
• Section 14 – Repealing Clause
• Section 15 – Effectivity
Definition
Definition
Classification of Waterbodies
Classification of Waterbodies
General Effluent Standards
General Effluent Standards
General Effluent Standards
Importance
Know your Davao Gulf in Davao City – Class SB
Receiving Body of
Water
Classification

Check the
Significant Effluent
Parameters for Industry Category: Hospital
your Industry
Sector

Determine your
General Effluent
Standard from
Table 9 of DAO
2016-08
Receiving Body of Water: Class SB
Significant Effluent General Effluent Significant Effluent General Effluent
Parameter for Standard for Class SB Parameter for Hospitals, Standard
Hospitals, Clinics, Water Clinics, Nursing Homes
Nursing Homes and and other human health
other human health and residential care
and residential care activities
activities
Color 100 TCU Nitrate 20 mg/L
Temperature 30 change Phosphate 1 mg/L
pH 6.5-9.0 Oil and Grease 5 mg/L
BOD 30 mg/L Surfactants (MBAS) 3 mg/L
Total Suspended 70 mg/L
Solids
Fecal Coliform 200 MPN/ 100ml
Ammonia 0.5 mg/L
Sec. 10 – Grace Period
Sec. 11- Prohibitions
Sec. 11- Prohibitions
EMB MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR
2008-08
Water quality monitoring procedures consists of
two (2) volumes
Volume 1 – Ambient Water Quality Monitoring
Volume 2 – Effluent Water Quality Monitoring
Types of Effluent Sample
Sample Containers
For microbiological analysis, strong, thick-walled glass sample bottles with a
minimum capacity of 120 ml are recommended.

The bottles should have screw caps of a type that will maintain an effective seal
even after having been autoclaved many times.
Kinds of Samples
1. Effluent samples are routinely collected by EMB personnel or PCO
and
the facility owner for monitoring and permitting purposes

2. Influent samples are collected by EMB for facilities discharging

strong wastes for .

3. Abstracted water may be collected from the facility to confirm the

quality of the abstracted water as declared by the facility during
the computation of the Net Waste Load. Abstracted water can be
sampled in groundwater, surface water or in existing water
utilities operated within the vicinity.
Effluent Sampling in Typical Treatment Facilities

• Biological Treatment (Aerobic System-Activated

Sludge, Trickling Filters and Anaerobic Systems)

The effluent is normally taken from the discharge of

the last treatment unit. For aerobic systems employing
activated sludge process and trickling filter, the sample
is collected from the outflow of the secondary
sedimentation tank or final clarifier.
• Ponds/lagoons

The ponds or lagoons are normally provided with

weirs where the flow rates can also be measured.

Effluent samples can be taken from the outfall right

after the weir or from its discharge outfall.
• Chemical treatment

The sample is collected from the discharge of the last

sedimentation tank
• Septic Tank

Effluent from the septic tanks is difficult to collect. Sampling station can either
be from the outfall or from the ditches (beforen discharge to drainage).

If septic tank effluent has no accessible sampling point or has no outfall (such as
pipe is located underground), sample is collected at the effluent filter of the last
chamber.

If the septic tank has submersible pump, sample is collected during discharge.

Always observe safety precautions, when collecting effluent samples from septic
tanks.
• Chlorinated Effluents

Effluent sample is collected from the unit following the

chlorine mixing tank. The chlorine residual should be
immediately measured before any sample is lifted for
bacterial examination.

The sterile sampling bottle should already contain the

required volume of de-chlorinating agent (sodium
thiosulfate).
FLOW MEASUREMENT
1. Direct Container Methods
Direct container methods have the advantage of being
easy. These are simply measurements of the amount
of time it takes to fill a container.

Different types of containers can be used depending

on their availability.
2. Sump Pump

calculated flow is direct proportion to the kilowatt

hours used by the station
3. Weirs

A Weir is a low dam or overflow structure built across an open

channel.

It has a specific size and shape with a unique free-flow, head

discharge relationship. The edge or surface over which the water
flows is called the crest.
Discharge rates are determined by measuring the vertical
distance from the crest to the water surface in the pool upstream
from the crest.
Rectangular Weir
V-Notch Weirs
Trapezoidal Weir
 Miralou A. Blanco
Sr. EMS/ Unit Head, Ambient Water Monitoring
DENR-EMB XI
embxiamswater@emb.gov.ph