REPUBLIC ACT NO.

9275
The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
MAEVELYN KATHRYN D. TUPASI
OIC, Ambient Monitoring and Technical Services Section

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (WEAP(, INC. DENR – ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU (DENR – EMB)
THREE MAIN TOPICS

Salient Features of RA 9275

DAO 2016-08 and DAO 2021-19

WQG and GES

Wastewater Sampling Procedures and

Protocols
• Water is at the core of
sustainable development and is
critical for socio-economic
development, healthy ecosystems
and for human survival itself. It is
vital for reducing the global
burden of disease and improving
the health, welfare and
productivity of populations.
 SDG 6
To ensure availability and
sustainable management
of water for all by 2030.
Water and Climate Change?
CLIMATE CHANGE: primarily a WATER CRISIS
• Impacts: worsening floods, rising sea levels,
shrinking ice fields, wildfires and droughts

WE CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

Thru SUSTAINABLE
WATER MANAGEMENT
➢ Build resilient societies and
ecosystems
➢ Reduce carbon emissions

Everyone has a role to play

To protect the
waterbodies of the
country, the
“Philippine Clean
Water Act of 2004”
or the
Republic Act No.
9275, was enacted to
ensure access to
clean water for all
Filipinos
 R.A. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

 The State shall pursue a policy

of economic growth in a
manner consistent with the
protection, preservation and
revival of the quality of fresh,
brackish and marine waters.
Section 2 of R.A. 9275

 DENR AO 2005-10
⚫ Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR)
 R.A. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

 Primarily addresses the abatement

and control of pollution from land-
based sources.

 Focuses on the creation and

delegation of new regulatory,
planning and infrastructure
development functions to agencies
and subsidiary multi-sectoral bodies
and on streamlining inter-agency
coordination
 R.A. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

 Primary agency responsible in the implementation and

enforcement
INSTITUTIONAL
⚫ Review and set effluent standards
MECHANISM
⚫ Review and enforce water quality guidelines
⚫ Classify groundwater sources and prepare a national
groundwater vulnerability map
⚫ Establish internally accepted procedures for sampling
and analysis
⚫ Prepare an integrated water quality management
framework and subsequently prepare 10-yr
DENR management plans for each water management area
R.A. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
R.A. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
DILG MC 2019-62 dated April 22, 2019
Policy and Guidelines on Sewage Treatment and
Sewage Management System

Purpose: to reiterate the roles of LGUs in the delivery of

basic services relative to the implementation of sewage
treatment and septage management system within
their respective territorial jurisdiction

DOH AO 2019-0047
National Standard on the Design, Construction, Operation and
Maintenance of Septic Tank Systems

Objectives: to set a national standard on the design,

construction/installation, operation and maintenance of septic tank as
the major component of basic sanitation facilities and other
alternative sanitation technology design
 R.A. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ROLE

IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
 SECTION 21
⚫ The Department and the LGUs, in coordination with the appropriate agencies, and in consultation with
the business and industrial sectors, including commerce, shall
formulate appropriate
incentives for the adoption procedures that will preserve and protect
our water bodies through the introduction of innovative equipment and
processes that reduce if totally eliminate discharge of pollutants into
our water bodies

We are Partners!!!
 What’s your call?

Are you part of the solution

or part of the pollution?
Water Pollutants and its Impact to the
Environment
 Dissolv
Biochemical Inorganic Pollutants
Oxygen
ed Demand Heavy Metals Accumulation →
enters food chain → public
Oxygen health
With Pathogens
Thermal Pollution
Rise in temperature —>
Suspended reduces DO; increased
Solids and bacterial action
Sediments
Suspended solids blocks Reduction of light
sunlight → inhibits Oil transmission = reduced
photosynthesis → decrease photosynthesis
plant survival → decreased
DO output PAH = carcinogenic

Nutrients Synthetic Compounds

Detergents, solvents, paint
◆ Ammonia etc = resistant to microbial
degradation; persistent
◆ Nitrate
◆ Phosphate Radioactive Pollutants
Medical Wastes: Y-90, I-131
and Sr-89 for treating cancer
 R.A. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

Wastewater Charge System and

 Section 13: Wastewater Charge System
Discharge Permit
The DENR shall implement a wastewater
charge system in all management areas
through the collection of wastewater
charges/fees.
 Section 14: Discharge Permit
The DENR shall require owners or operators of
facilities that discharge regulated effluents
pursuant to this Act to secure a permit to
discharge
 Discharge Permit (Section
14)
Date of Approval DP Number

Name of Firm, Address and TIN Number

1. Allowable volume of discharge

And significant parameters

2. Submit Volume of effluent for reuse

(irrigation, watering, flush) --> within 30
days
3. Submission of SMRs

4. Effluent Analysis Results

5. Certification from DA for reuse
of treated wastewater
6. Submit Sludge Disposal
Management Plan → within 30 days 7. flow-metering device for influent and
effluent → within 30 days
 8. Accessible sampling port

9. Certificate / Proof of desludging --WTF

10. Allow entry for inspection

11. Frame the DP and receipts

12. Renewed 30 days before expiration

REGIONAL DIRECTOR
CPD Chief
EMB MIMAROPA
 NWRB Water Permit
⚫ Requirement for those using ground water
as source of water for their operations

https://www.tlcpay.ph/NWRB/onlineapplication
 R.A. 9275 Section 27 Prohibited Acts
Disposal of infectious medical
wastes into sea by vessels

Direct Discharge
Injecting or seepage into soil
Unauthorized transport or dumping of
sewage sludge or solid waste

Discharging to waterbody which

impedes natural flow

Discharge of prohibited chemicals regulated under RA 6969

 R.A. 9275 Section 27 Prohibited Acts

Undertake activities or
development and expansion of
projects, or operating WWTF/ STP
in violation of PD 1586 and its IRR

NO VALID DISCHARGE
PERMIT
R.A. 9275 Section 27 Prohibited Acts
 WQG and GES

DAO 2016-08: Water Quality Guidelines and

General Effluent Standards of 2016

DAO 2021-19: Updated Water Quality

Guidelines (WQG) and General Effluent Standards
(GES) for Selected Parameters
 DAO 2016-08 is issued to provide guidelines…

⚫ For the CLASSIFICATION of water bodies in the country;

⚫ Determination of TIME TRENDS and evaluation of stages of
deterioration / enhancement in water quality;
⚫ Evaluation of the need for taking actions in preventing,
controlling or abating water pollution; and
⚫ Designation of WQMA
⚫ Set the GENERAL EFFLUENT STANDARDS (GES)
 DAO 2016-08: WQG and GES
 Water Quality Guidelines
WQG
⚫ … to maintain and preserve the
quality of water based on their
intended beneficial and for the
prevention and control of
pollution…
⚫ Applies to all waterbodies:
freshwaters, marine waters and
groundwater
⚫ Shall be used for classifying
waterbodies
⚫ Used in the process of WQMA
designation
 General Effluent Standards
GES
⚫ … to set legal restrictions or limits on
the concentration of physico-chemical
and biological parameters of effluent
from business establishments….
⚫ Applies to all point sources of
pollution, regardless of volume, that
discharges to receiving body of water
or land
⚫ Used regardless of the industry
category
DAO 2016-08
PARAMETERS
FC (Fecal Coliform)
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen
Demand)
DO (Dissolved Oxygen)
Color
TSS (Total Suspended Solids)
pH (power of Hydrogen)
Nitrate and Phosphate
Oil and Grease
DESCRIPTION
Present in gut of human and other animals; Indicator organism; presence could mean
presence of other pathogens
Measures the degree / extent of pollution; amount of DO that must be present in water for
microorganisms to decompose the organic matter
Measure the Oxygen present in water available for use of aquatic organisms; 6.5 – 8mg DO/L
= healthy
Indicator of pollution; pure water is colorless therefore any color appearance in water =
pollution
Particle impurities that are suspended in the water column; sediments, silts, sand, algae,
plankton, decomposing organic materials; interrupts photosynthesis
Measure of acidity/basicity (0-14); too low or too high = stressful for aquatic organisms
Essential for plant growth but overabundance causes ecological harm, results to excessive
growth of plants and algae => clog water intakes; depletes oxygen; block light; eutrophication
Surface films such as fats, waxes when present in water contributes to the depletion of
oxygen ; interrupts photosynthesis
Water Quality Guidelines for Primary Parameters
Water Quality Guidelines for Secondary Parameters
GENERAL EFFLUENT STANDARDS
GENERAL EFFLUENT STANDARDS
GENERAL EFFLUENT STANDARDS
⚫ Updated Water Quality
Guidelines (WQG) and
General Effluent
Standards (GES) for
Selected Parameter

3
8
⚫ Updated Water Quality
Guidelines (WQG) and
General Effluent
Standards (GES) for
Selected Parameter

3
9
⚫ Updated Water Quality
Guidelines (WQG) and
General Effluent
Standards (GES) for
Selected Parameter

4
0
⚫ Updated Water Quality
Guidelines (WQG) and
General Effluent
Standards (GES) for
Selected Parameter

4
1
⚫ Updated Water Quality
Guidelines (WQG) and
General Effluent
Standards (GES) for
Selected Parameter

4
2
⚫ Updated Water Quality
Guidelines (WQG) and
General Effluent
Standards (GES) for
Selected Parameter

4
3
DAO 2016-08: Section 7.1 Significant Effluent Quality Parameters per Sector
(Table 8)
 WASTEWATER
SAMPLING
PROCEDURES AND
PROTOCOLS
Main Objective

 COMPLIANCE

COLLECT A PORTION of material small enough in volume to be

TRANSPORTED CONVENIENTLY and yet
LARGE ENOUGH for analytical purposes while still accurately
REPRESENTING THE MATERIAL being sampled
FIVE MAJOR ACTIVITIES

Obtaining good results greatly depends on the following

1. Collecting representative samples

2. Proper sample handling and preservation
3. Adhering to adequate chain-of-custody and sample identification
4. Adequate quality assurance and quality control
5. Proper and correct analysis the sample
FIELD DATA FORM
AND LABEL
NOTE: NEVER
WASH THE
SAMPLING BOTTLE
WITH THE SAMPLE
 Types of STP and Sample Collection Points
TYPE OF STP SAMPLE COLLECTION POINT

BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT AEROBIC Effluent is taken from the discharge of the last treatment unit
SYSTEM and ANAEROBIC SYSTEMS

AER0BIC SYSTEMS EMPLOYING ACTIVATED Effluent is collected from the outflow of the secondary sedimentation tank or final clarifier
SLUDGE AND TRICKLING FILTERS

PONDS / LAGOONS Effluent can be taken from the outfall right after the weir or from its discharge outfall

CHEMICAL TREATMENT Effluent is collected from the discharge of the last sedimentation tank

SEPTIC TANK Effluent can be taken from the outfall or the ditches (before discharge to drainage)

If there is no accessible sampling point or no outfall, sample is collected at the effluent filter of
the last chamber

CHLORINATED SAMPLE Effluent sample is collected from the unit following the chlorine mixing tank
SIMPLE ACTIVITY
https://forms.office.com/r/XKXTTGnfu9
 DO’s and DON’T’s OF SAMPLE TRANSPORT
DO’s
✓ Check that the sample bottle is securely capped to prevent leaking and contamination
✓ Pack the samples using fresh ice with a volume enough to keep the temperature at approximately 4ºC (usually
twice the volume of ice to samples)
✓ Separately pack samples and the ice
✓ Use double line coolers

DON’T’s
✖ Do not use tape or paraffin to seal the bottles/jars containing organic samples

✖Do not use BLUE ICE or other types of commercial, refreezable containers

✖Do not chill samples or use any substances that can chill or freeze the samples

✖ Samples for nutrient analysis must not be contained in coolers previously used for samples
preserved with nitric acid
World Water Day 2023 Theme:
ACCELERATING CHANGE TO SOLVE THE WATER AND SANITATION CRISIS
 Speaker:
PICTURE MAEVELYN KATHRYN D. TUPASI
OIC, Ambient Monitoring and Technical Services Section
DENR EMB MIMAROPA Region

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (WEAP(, INC. DENR – ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU (DENR – EMB)