ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS/RULES &

REGULATIONS ON
THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR

WATER BODIES
Engr. Divina Camarao
EMB-NCR

Existing Water Resources (NWRB)

Marine Waters
Cover an area of about 226,000 sq km,
including bays and gulfs
Coastline stretches to about 17,460 km
64 of 79 provinces are in coastal areas

Groundwater

Existing Water Resources (NWRB)

B. Inland Waters
Lakes - 99
Major (minimum area of 4 km2)
Minor (minimum area less than 4 km2)

- 16
- 83

Rivers
Principal Rivers (with drainage area
not less than 40sqkm

)- 421

Major Rivers (drainage area

not less than 1,400 km2

- 18

Status of our Rivers

180 of 421 rivers are
polluted
50 are biologically
dead

4 rivers are from

Metro Manila

Sources of Pollution - National

Domestic
Sources 33%

Other Sources
11%

Agricultural
29%

Industrial 27%

Sources of Pollution - NCR

42%

58%

HOW DO WE DETERMINE
QUALITY OF OUR WATERBODIES

DAO 1990 - 34
Revised Water Usage and
Classification

Water Quality Criteria Amending

Section Nos. 68 & 69, Chap. III
of the 1978 NPCC Rules and

Regulations

Water Classification and Usage of

Fresh Surface Waters (Rivers, Lakes)
Classification
Class AA

AA

Beneficial Use
Public Water Supply Class I
Intended primarily for waters having
watersheds, which are uninhabited
and otherwise protected, and which
require only approved disinfection to
meet the PNSDW
Public Water Supply Class II
For sources of water supply that will
require complete treatment
(coagulation, sedimentation,
filtration and disinfection) to meet
the PNSDW

Water Classification and Usage of

Fresh Surface Waters (Rivers, Lakes)
Classification
Class B

Beneficial Use

Recreational Water Class I

For primary contact recreation
such as bathing, swimming, skin
diving, etc. (particularly those
designated for tourism purposes)
1. Fishery Water for the propagation
and growth of fish and other
aquatic resources
2. Recreational Water Class II
(Boating, etc.)
3. Industrial Water Supply Class I
(For manufacturing processes
after treatment)

Water Classification and Usage of

Fresh Surface Waters (Rivers, Lakes)
Classification
Class D

Beneficial Use
1. For agriculture, irrigation, and
livestock watering, etc.
2. Industrial Water Supply Class II
(e.g. cooling, etc.)
3. Other inland waters, by their
quality, belong to this
classification

Water Classification and Usage

of Coastal and Marine Waters
Classification
Class SA

SA

Beneficial Use
1. National marine parks and
reserves established under
Presidential Proclamation 1801,
other existing laws), and/or
declared as such by appropriate
government agency.
2. Waters suitable for the
propagation, survival and
harvesting of shellfish for
commercial purposes.
3. Coral reef parks and reserves
designated by law and concerned
authorities.

Water Classification and Usage

of Coastal and Marine Waters
Classification
Class SB

SB

Beneficial Use
1.Fishery Water Class I
(Spawning areas for milkfish
(Chanos chanos) and similar
species
2.Tourist Zones For
ecotourism and recreational
activities

3.Recreational Water Class I

(Areas regularly used by the
public for bathing, swimming,
skin diving, etc.)

Water Classification and Usage

of Coastal and Marine Waters
Classification
Class SC

SC

Class SD

SD

Beneficial Use
1. Fishery Water Class II
(Commercial and sustenance
fishing)
2. Recreational Water Class II For
boating, etc.)
3. Marshy and/or mangrove areas
declared as fish and wildlife
sanctuaries
1. Industrial Water Supply For
manufacturing processes after
treatment, cooling, etc.)
2. Other coastal and marine maters,
by their quality, belong to this
classification

Water Quality Criteria for

Conventional Pollutants
Parameter

Class A

Class B

Class C

Class D

pH Range

6.5-8.5

6.5-8.5

6.5-8.5

6.0-9.0

D.O mg/l (min)

5.0

5.0

5.0

3.0

BOD5 mg/l

7(10)

15

Surfactants
(MBAS)mg/l

0.2

0.3

0.5

Oil/Grease mg/l

--5

WQ Criteria for Toxic and Other

Deleterious Substances for Freshwater
Parameter

Class A

Class B

Class C

Class D

Arsenic mg/l

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.01

Cadmium mg/l

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.05

Chromium mg/l

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.10

Cyanide mg/l

0.05

0.05

0.05

------

Lead mg/l

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.50

HOW DO WE DETERMINE
ESTABLISHMENTS COMPLIANCE

DAO 1990 - 35
Revised Effluent Regulations of 1990
Revising and Amending the Effluent
Regulations of 1982

This regulations shall apply to all

industrial and commercial wastewater
/ effluents

Effluent
- a general term denoting any wastewater,
partially or completely treated, or in its
natural state, flowing out of a
manufacturing plant, industrial or treatment
plant
OEI Old and existing industry
( as of 1990)
NPI New and proposed industry
Strong Wastes wastewater whose initial BOD
value is equal or greater than 3,000mg/l

Table 2A- Effluent Standards for

Conventional Pollutants
Parameters

Class A &B
OEI

Class A &B
NPI (95)

Class C
OEI

Class C
NPI (95)

Color PCU

150

100

200

150

pH ( pH range)

6-9

6-9

6-9

6.5-9.0

BOD5 mg/L

50

30

80

50

Total Suspended
Solids mg/l

70

50

90

70

Settleable Solids
mL/L

0.3

0.3

0.5

0.5

Surfactants (MBAS) 5.0

2.0

7.0

5.0

Table 2A- Effluent Standards for

Conventional Pollutants
Parameters
Oil/Grease ,mg/l

Class A &B
OEI

Class A &B
NPI (95)

Class C
OEI

Class C
NPI (95)

5.0

5.0

10

COD, mg/l ***

100

60

150

100

Total Coliform.
MPN/100 ml

5,000

3,000

15,000

10,000

Table 2A- Effluent Standards for Toxic

& other Deleterious Substances
Parameters

Class A & B
OEI

Class A& B
NPI (95)

Class C
OEI

Class C
NPI (95)

Arsenic , mg/l

0.20

0.10

0.50

0.20

Cadmium, mg/l

0.05

0.02

0.10

0.05

Chromium,mg/l

0.10

0.05

0.20

0.10

Cyanide, mg/l

0.20

0.10

0.30

0.20

Lead,mg/l

0.20

0.10

0.50

0.30

PCB, mg/l

0.003

0.003

0.003

0.003

Effluent Standards for Industries

Producing Strong Wastes
Industry Classification
based on BOD of raw
wastewater

BOD maximum allowable

limits mg/l in inland waters
Class C and D

BOD 3,000 10,000 mg/l

130 or 98 % removal
(whichever is lower)

BOD 10,001 to 30,000 mg/l 200 or 99 % removal

(whichever is lower)
BOD more than 30,000
mg/l

300 or 99 % removal
(whichever is lower)

Salient Features of the

Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
(RA 9275) and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations
(DAO 0510)
An Act Providing For A Comprehensive Water Quality
Management And For Other Purposes

Philippine Clean Water Act (RA 9275)

Enacted on March 22, 2004
Published on April 21,2004
Took effect on May 6, 2004

Implementing Rules and Regulations of

the PCWA of 2004 (DAO 200510)
Signed by the Secretary on May 16, 2005
Published last May 26, 2005 (Manila Times
and Manila Standard Today)

Objectives of the PCWA

To protect the countrys waterbodies from
pollution from landbased sources
To provide comprehensive and integrated
strategy to prevent and minimize pollution
through multisectoral and participatory
approach involving all stakeholders

Coverage of the PCWA

The Act shall apply to:
Water quality management in all water bodies
The abatement and control of pollution from
landbased sources

Enforcement of water quality standards,

regulations and penalties

HOW ESTABLISHMENTS DISCHARGES

ARE REGULATED/CONTROLLED

Sec. 14. Discharge Permits

All owners or operators of
facilities that discharge
wastewater are required to get
a permit to discharge or
wastewater discharge permit
from the DENR.

Rule 14.1: Who may apply for WDP?

Any person that shall discharge in any manner
wastewater into Philippine waters and/or
land shall secure a wastewater discharge
permit from the Regional Office of the
Bureau.

Rule 14.2 REQUIREMENTS FOR

DP APPLICATION (New)
1. Fully accomplished Discharge Permit
Application form. Duly notarized
2. Certificate of Accreditation of PCO or
Received application for PCO Accreditation
(Appointment/designation paper of the
Pollution Control Officer (PCO) for the
establishment together with complete biodata, curriculum vitae and recent color ID
picture).

3. Engineers Report prepared by a Registered

Chemical or Sanitary Engineer or PCO.
a. Nature of project or business;

b. Brief description of project and operation

involved;
d. The nature and character of the applicants
wastewater and its physical and chemical
composition;

3. Engineers Report prepared by a Registered

Chemical or Sanitary Engineer or PCO.
e. Total daily volume of discharge of raw
wastewater;
f. Treatment process and estimated treatment
efficiency; The expected quality of the
effluent and other discharge (shall meet the
Effluent Standards of the DENR);

g. The total daily volume of water consumption

and discharge of final treated wastewater
effluent;

3. Engineers Report prepared by a Registered

Chemical or Sanitary Engineer or PCO.
h. The name of receiving body of water and its
official water classification and in case of land
discharge, the nearest receiving body of water
and its official water classification;

i. Information on flow measurement equipment

and procedure;
j. Pollution prevention/Environmental Mgt.
System plan or program;

3. Engineers Report prepared by a Registered

Chemical or Sanitary Engineer or PCO.
l. State the cost incurred in the installation and
maintenance of wastewater treatment
facility; if any.

4. Drawing requirements in 50cm x 90cm paper

duly signed and sealed by Registered Chemical
or Sanitary Engineer
a. Vicinity Map of the Plant;
b. The wastewater line layout from the
wastewater sources to the WTF; and
c. Plan and elevation drawings of the WTF as
built with complete specifications
5. Official Receipt for the payment of the
applicable fees.
6. Copy of the ECC or Certificate of Non-Coverage
(CNC) from the Department.
7. Water billing statement for the whole year.

Rule 14.3: Renewal of Discharge Permits

Requirements:
a) Copies of the quarterly selfmonitoring reports for the
immediately preceeding year;
b) Copy of the Certificate of Accreditation of the PCO duly
issued by the Dept., or appointment/designation as such
by the Managing Head;
c) Official Receipts for the payment of the applicable
Permit Fee and the Wastewater Discharge Fee; and
d) Copy of the Water Billing Statement

30 days prior to expiry date

Rule 14.5 Permit Fee

The applicant shall pay an annual permit
fee following the schedule below:
Volumetric Rate of Discharge
Zero Discharge

Amount
Annual Fee (Pesos)
2,000.00

W/o Heavy Metals

Below 10 m3/day
> 10 m3/day 30 m3/day
> 30 m3/day 100 m3/day
> 100 m3/day 150 m3/day
> 150 m3/day

2,000.00
2,200.00
2,500.00
2,700.00
3,300.00

With Heavy Metals

2,600.00
2,800.00
3,100.00
3,300.00
3,900.00

Rule 14.9 Effectivity of the Discharge

Permit
The Discharge Permit shall be valid
for a maximum period of five (5)
years from the date of its issuance,
renewable for 5 year- period.

Wastewater Charge System

Established on the basis of payment to
government for discharging wastewater into
the water bodies
Based on net waste load
(diff. Of initial load of abstracted water to
waste load of discharged effluent)

Wastewater Charge System

The Wastewater Discharge Fee Formula

WDF = Ln x R
Ln = net waste load

L n = [C f - Ca ) (Q f x N f ) ] x 0.001
where: C f = average daily effluent concentration (mg/l) for priority
pollutant parameter (PPP: BOD or TSS)
Ca = average water quality concentration for PPP of
abstracted or intake water
Q f = average volumetric flowrate measurement or final
discharge effluent (m 3 / day)
N f = is the total number of discharge days in a year
(days/year)

R = rate of charge per pollutant

(BOD/TSS)

Sample Computation
Assumption:
Effluent BOD = 50 mg/L
Abstracted water BOD = 0 mg/L
Volume of Discharge = 4.83 cu.m./day
No. of Days of Operation = 360 days/yr
(March 2012 Feb. 2013)

Ln = (50-0) mg/L x 4.83 cu.m./day

x 360 days/yr. x 0.001
Ln = 0.87kg/yr
WDF = 0.87kg/yr x P 5.00/kg.
= P 435.00/yr.
Permit Fee: P 2,000.00 (below 10 cu.m./day)

PROHIBITED ACTS
Discharging, depositing or causing to be
deposited material of any kind directly or
indirectly into water bodies or along the
margin of any surface water
Discharging, injecting or allowing to seep into
the soil or sub-soil any substance in any form
that would pollute groundwater.

PROHIBITED ACTS
Discharging regulated water pollutants
without the required discharge permit

Refusal to allow entry, inspection and

monitoring as well as access to reports
and records

PROHIBITED ACTS
Operating facilities that discharge regulated
water pollutants without the valid required
permits or after the permit was revoked for
any violation of any conditions therein.
Disposal of potentially infectious medical
wastes into seawater by vessels

PROHIBITED ACTS
Unauthorized transport or dumping into
seawater of sewage sludge or solid waste
as defined under RA 6969
Transport, dumping or discharge of
prohibited chemicals ,substances or
pollutants listed under RA 6969

PROHIBITED ACTS
Refusal or failure to submit reports and/or
designate Pollution Control Officer

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

PROHIBITED ACTS
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 or development and
expansion of projects, or operating
wastewater treatment/sewerage facilities
in violation of PD 1586 and its IRR

CIVIL LIABILITY/PENAL PROVISIONS

Violation

Penalty/Civil Liability

Upon the recommendation of

the PAB, anyone who
commits prohibited acts such
as Discharging of untreated
wastewater into any water body

Fine of not less than PhP10,000 but not

more than PhP200,000
for every day of violation

Failure to undertake cleanup

operations

Imprisonment not less than 2 yrs. but

not more than 4 yrs. ; A fine of not less
than PhP50,000 but not more than
PhP100,000 per day of violation

Failure or refusal to cleanup

which results in serious injury or
loss of life or lead to irreversible
water contamination

Imprisonment of not less than 6 yrs. and

1 day and not more than 12 yrs. and fine
of PhP500,000 per day for each violation

Our environment, the world in which we live

and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and
expectations.
--- Earl Nightingale--Be good environmental stewards
for the glory of God.
--- Colossians 3:23

Magandang Maka-kalikasang Araw sa Inyo

Salamat Po!

EMB-NCR

w w w. e m b . go v. p h /