Water Quality Guidelines
and Effluent Standards and
its Implementation in thePhilippines
Engr. Erlinda A. Gonzales
Technical Officer
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)
Engr. Leonora C. Cleofas
Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operation
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewage System(MWSS)

Outline of Presentation• Overview of the Water Quality Guidelines (WQG) and
General Effluent Standards (GES) for water
environment• Status of Implementation of those Standards• Status of effluent emission load from municipal waste
water in Metro Manila• Status of coordination with the plans to develop waste
water treatment system• Issues and challenges of the water environment
legislation

2

Overview of the Water Quality Guidelines(WQG) and General Effluent Standards(GES) for Water Environment
Basic Policy
The Basic policy was taken from RA 9275 otherwise
known as the Philippine Clean Water Act which
declared that the state shall pursue a policy of
economic growth in a manner consistent with theprotection, preservation and revival of the quality offresh, brackish and marine waters.

3

Scope and Coverage of the WQG
The WQG applies to all water bodies in the country(freshwaters, marine waters, and ground water)
Shall be used for classifying water bodies
Shall be used for determining trends and evaluationof stages of deterioration or enhancement in water
qualityused as basis for taking positive actions inpreventing, controlling or abating water pollution
Shall be used in the Designation of Water Quality
Management Area (WQMA)
4

Scope and Coverage of the GES
GES applies to all point sources of pollution,
regardless of volume, that discharge to receiving
body of water or land and be used regardless of theindustry category.
However, Effluent used for irrigation andagricultural purposes shall conform to the guideline
set by the Department of Agriculture for the safe reuse of wastewater for the purposes of irrigation another agricultural Uses.

5

Scope and Coverage of the GES
The GES established the Significant Effluent Quality
Parameters per sector ( industries shall only berequired to monitor effluent quality parameters
determined significant to them
In consideration for establishments with influent BOD
greater than or equal to 3000 mg/l, separate effluent
standards were set but applicable only forestablishments discharging to Class S, Class D, ClassSC and Class SD water bodies.

6Modification of WQG and GES
Modification can be requested as long as a clear
and scientifically valid evidence to demonstratethat such modification is consistent with RA 9275
and Implementing Rules and Regulations is provided:
Designated UsesWQG Values
Significant Effluent Water Quality Parameters
per Sector and GES Values

7

Grace Period
Consistent with the Clean Water Act, a grace periodof not more than five (5) years is provided in cases
wherein:
Values for GES have become stringent comparedto the values in DAO 1990-35 ( the amended
effluent standards) In such cases DAO 1990-35
shall apply during the grace period
Grace period can only be given to
establishments that submit Compliance Action
Plan and periodic status of implementation to
the DENR on the steps taken for theestablishments compliance schedule within theprescribed grace period.
8

Fines, Damages and Penalties
Fines of 10,000 – 200,000 Php for every day of violation;
upon PAB recommendation (rates to be increased 10%
every 2 years);Closure, suspension of development or construction or
cessation of operations, upon PAB recommendation;
2 to 4 yr imprisonment for failure to clean up & 50,000 –100,000 for every day of violation;

9

Water Body Classification and Usage offreshwater
Classification

Intended Beneficial use

Class AA Public Water Supply Class I. Intended primarily for waters having watersheds,
which are uninhabited and/or otherwise declared as protected areas, and which
require only approved disinfection to meet the latest PNSDWClass A Public Water Supply Class II. Intended as sources of water supply that will
requiring conventional treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration anddisinfection) in order to meet the PNSDW.
Class B

Recreational water Class I. Intended for primary contact recreation(bathing, swimming, etc.)

Class C 1) Fishery water for the propagation and growth of fish and otheraquatic resources;
2) Recreational Water Class II- For boating, fishing or similar activities
3) For agriculture, irrigation, and livestock watering
Class D Navigable Waters
10Water body Classification and Usage ofMarine Waters
Classification

Intended Beneficial use

Class SA 1) Protected Waters- Waters designated as national or local marineparks, reserves, sanctuaries, and other areas established by law (presidential
Proclamation 1801 and other existing laws) and/or declared as such byappropriate government agency, LGUs, etc.
2) Fishery Water Class 1 – Suitable for shellfish harvesting for direct humanconsumption.

Class SB 1) Fishery Water Class 11- Water suitable for commercial propagation ofshellfish and intended as spawning areas for milkfish (Chanos chanos) andsimmila species
2) Tourism Zones – For ecotourism and recreational activities
3) Recreational Water Class I – Intended for primary contact recreation(bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc)

11

Water body Classification and Usage ofMarine Waters
Classification

Intended Beneficial use

Class SC 1) Fishery Water Class 1II -( For the propagationand growth of fish and other aquatic resources andintended for Commercial and sustenance fishing2) Recreational water Class 11- For boating. Fishing, orsimilar activities
3) Marshy and /or mangrove areas declared as fish andwildlife sanctuaries
Class SD

Navigable Waters
12

Water Quality Guidelines for PrimaryParameters
Parameter

Unit

AA

A

B

C

D

BOD

mg/L

1

3

5

7

15

Chloride

mg/L

250

250

250

350

400

Color

TCU

5

50

50

75

150

Dissolved
Oxygen(Minimun)

mg/L

5

5

5

5

2

Fecal
Coliform

MPN/100ml

<1.1

<1.1

100

200

400

7
0.5
6.5-8.5
26-30

7
0.5
6.5-8.5
25-31

7
0.5
6.5-9.0
25-32

15

C

7
<0.003
6.5-8.526-30

6.0-9.0
26-30

Total
Suspended
Solids

mg/L

25

50

65

80

110

Oil andgrease

mg/L

<1

1

1

2

5

Nitrate as
NO3-N

Phospate

pH(Range)
Temperature

mg/L
mg/L

5

13

Water Quality Guidelines for PrimaryParameters
Parameter

Unit

SA

SB

SC

SD

BOD

mg/L

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Chloride

mg/L

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Color

TCU

5

50

75

150

Dissolved
Oxygen(Minimun)

mg/L

6

6

5

2

Fecal
Coliform

MPN/100ml

<1.1

100

200

400

Nitrate as
NO3-N

mg/L

10

10

10

15

7.0-8.5

7.0-8.5

6.5-8.5

6.0-9.0

0.1

0.5

0.5

5

26-30

26-30

25-31

25-32

25

50

80

110

1

2

3

5

pH(Range)

Phospate

mg/L

Temperature

C

Total
Suspended
Solidsmg/L

Oil andgreasemg/L

14

Effluent Standards
Parameter

Unit

AA

A

B

C

D

Ammoniaas NH3-N

mg/L

NDA

0.5

0.5

0.5

7.5

BOD

mg/L

NDA

20

30

50

120

COD

mg/L

NDA

60

60

100

200

Color

TCU

NDA

100

100

150

300

Flouride

mg/L

NDA

2

2

2

4

Nitrate as
NO3-N

mg/L

NDA

14

14

14

30

pH(Range)

NDA

6.0-9.0

6.0-9.0

6.0-9.0

5.5-9.5

Phosphate mg/L

NDA

1

1

1

10

Surfactants(MBAS)

mg/L

NDA

2

3

15

30

Total
Suspended
Solids

mg/L

NDA

70

85

100

150

Oil andGrease

mg/L

NDA

5

5

5

15
15

Effluent Standards
Parameter

Unit

SA

SB

SC

SD

Ammoniaas NH3-N

mg/L

NDA

0.5

0.5

7.5

BOD

mg/L

NDA

30

100

150

COD

mg/L

NDA

2

20

80

Color

TCU

NDA

100

150

300

Flouride

mg/L

NDA

3

3

6

Nitrate as
NO3-N

mg/L

NDA

20

20

30

NDA

6.5-9.0

6.0-9

5.5-9.5

pH(Range)

Phospate

mg/L

NDA

1

1

10

Surfactants(MBAS)

mg/L

NDA

3

15

30

Total
Suspended
Solids

mg/L

NDA

70

100

150

Oil andGrease

mg/L

NDA

5

10

15

16

Status of Implementation of the WQG and
GES
Activities Undertaken:
Classification of water bodies
Determine trends and stages of deterioration of water
quality
Designation of Water quality management area
As basis for taking positive actions to prevent, control
and abate water pollution.

17

Classification of Water Bodies
RegionClassified Water Bodies by Region
Principal River Other Rivers Marine Waters

Lakes

Total

1

14

10

1

0

25

2

26

23

0

0

49

3

16

43

4

0

63

4A

26

29

1

2

58

4B

30

25

16

1

72

5

29

23

7

4

63

6

31

25

15

0

71

7

19

14

10

0

43

8

23

27

9

1

60

9

17

27

3

0

47

10

12

29

1

1

43

11

17

15

4

0

36

12

14

26

6

2

48

CAR

11

28

0

1

40

CARAGA

19

11

6

1

37

NCR

2

3

1

0

6

Total

306

358

84

13

761
18

Water Quality Monitoring andAssessment

From 2006 to 2015, EMB monitored 164 water bodies,comprising principal rivers, minor rivers, lakes andmarine waters based on the set beneficial use.

19

Water Quality Monitoring
Monitoring of Bathing
Beaches of Manila Bay•

Nineteen (19) bathing beaches in
Manila Bay were monitored for Total
and Fecal Coliform, DO, pH and TSS•

Out of the nineteen (19) stations
monitored only two passed the SB
criteria of 1000 mpn/100 ml for
total coliform•

For fecal coliform, only one (1)station passed the criteria of 200
mpn/100 ml•

Ten (10) stations passed the criteriaof 5 mg/L for DO while fourteen (14)stations for pH and ten (10) stations
passed the water quality criteria for
TSS.
20

Water Quality Monitoring
Baywide Monitoring(Offshore)•

Nine (9) stations baywide in Manila
Bay were monitored for DO, pH,
Salinity, Temperature, Conductivity,
Phosphate and Heavy Metals.

•

A decreasing trend of Dissolve
Oxygen (DO) from top to bottom
was observed in all stations.

•Surface DO conformed with thecriteria of 5mg/L in all stations
while only 8 stations conformed atmid – depth and only 1 station
passed the DO criteria at thebottom.

•For TSS and Phosphate, all stations
passed the criteria.

•High levels of pH ranging from 8.94
to 9.56 were observed in the bay.

21

Water Quality Monitoring
River Water Quality
Monitoring•

Selected river systems
in the Manila Bay
Region (Region 4 – A,
NCR and Region 3)
discharging into Manila
Bay were monitored todetermine
theircompliance with thewater quality criteria.

Map showing the selected river
system draining into Manila Bay

22

Pasig River Unified Monitoring System
Fourteen (14) stations in Pasig river
were monitored for DO and BOD.
Out of the 14 stations monitored
only one (1) stations passed the
DO criteria of 5 mg/L for Class C
waters.
All stations failed the BOD criteriaof 7 mg/L .

23

Result of Pasig River Water Quality
Monitoring CY 2015
PARAMETERS
STATIONS
C6 Bridge
Bambang Bridge
Vargas Bridge
Marikina Bridge
Buayang Bato
Guadalupe Ferry Station
Guadalupe Nuevo
Guadalupe Viejo
Sevilla Bridge
Lambingan Bridge
Havana Bridge
Nagtahan Bridge
Jones Bridge
Manila Bay
DENR WATER QUALITY CRITERIA

DO, mg/L
6.1
2.57
0.45
3.21
2.96
3.75
0.2
1.9
0.97
2.63
1.87
1.1
3.06
1.73
5 mg/LBOD, mg/L
11.33
24.6
52.66
31.0
106.6
12.0
99.33
69.33
68.66
12.66
12.66
11.33
13.33
9.33
10 mg/L24

Water Quality Monitoring
Parañaque River System•

Ten (10) stations were monitored for
DO, BOD, TSS, Phosphate and Nitrate•

DO – All Stations Failed (Criteria: 5
mg/L)

•

BOD – All Stations Failed (Criteria: 7(10) mg/L)•

TSS – 5 Stations Passed (Criteria: 50
mg/L)

•

Phosphate – All Stations(Criteria: 0.4 mg/L)•

Nitrate – 7 Stations Passed (Criteria:
10 mg/L)

FailedMap of Parañaque River System
25

Water Quality Monitoring
Navotas – Malabon –Tullahan – Tenejeros
River System•

Nine (9) stations were monitored
for DO, BOD, TSS, Phosphate andNitrate•DO – All Stations Failed (Criteria: 5
mg/L)

•

BOD – All Stations Failed (Criteria:
7 (10) mg/L)•

TSS – All Stations Passed (Criteria:
50 mg/L)•

Phosphate – All Stations Failed(Criteria: 0.4 mg/L)•

Nitrate – 7 Stations(Criteria: 10 mg/L)

PassedMap of Navotas – Malabon –Tullahan – Tenejeros River
System26

Water Quality Monitoring
Meycauayan – Valenzuela
River System•

Six (6) stations were monitored
for DO, BOD, TSS, Phosphate andNitrate•DO – All Stations Failed (Criteria:
5 mg/L)•BOD – All Stations(Criteria: 7 (10) mg/L)•

TSS – 4 Stations Passed (Criteria:
50 mg/L)•

Phosphate – All Stations Failed(Criteria: 0.4 mg/L)•

Nitrate – 4 Stations(Criteria: 10 mg/L)

FailedPassedMap of Meycauayan – Valenzuela
River System

27

Water Quality Monitoring
Imus River System•

Eight (8) stations weremonitored for DO, BOD, TSS and
Phosphate•

DO – 4 Stations Passed (Criteria:
5 mg/L)•BOD – 3 Stations Passed(Criteria: 7 (10) mg/L)•

TSS – 7 Stations Passed (Criteria:
50 mg/L)•

Phosphate – All Stations Failed(Criteria: 0.4 mg/L)

Map of Imus River System

28

Water Quality Monitoring
Rio Grande River System•

Five (5) stations were monitored for
DO, BOD, TSS and Phosphate•

DO – 3 Stations Passed (Criteria: 5
mg/L)

•

BOD – 3 Stations Passed (Criteria: 7(10) mg/L)•

TSS – All Stations Passed (Criteria:
50 mg/L)•

Phosphate – 1 Station Failed(Criteria: 0.4 mg/L)
Map of Rio Grande River System

29

River Water Quality Monitoring in Region III
Table 1. Results of water quality monitoring in Region III
RIVERSMONITORED

Number of
Stations
Monitored

DO (5mg/L)

BOD (10mg/L)

Talisay River3

All stations failed

Angat River4

All stations failed

Sta. Maria River3

All stations failed

All stations
passedAll stations
passedAll stations failed

Obando River3

All stations failed

All stations failed

Marilao River5

All stations failed

All stations failed

Bocaue River3

All stations failed

All stations failed

Meycauayan River5

All stations failed

All stations failed

Guagua River3

All stations failed

All stations failed

Pampanga River5

All stations failed

All stations
passedTotal

34

Nitrate (10mg/L)(Applicable toLakes andreservoirs)
All stations
passedAll stations
passedAll stations
passedAll stations
passedAll stations
passedAll stations
passedAll stations
passedAll stations
passedAll stations
passed30

Designation of Water Quality Management
Area (WQMA)
Water quality Management Area is defined as an area designatedusing appropriate physiographic units (watershed, river basin or
water resources regions) sharing common interest or face similar
development programs, prospect or problems.
Designation of WQMA empowered the local stakeholders to institutemeasures and identify programs to effectively manage the water
bodies in their respective area.
Governing Board (GB) was created to develop strategies tocoordinate policies, regulations and local legislation necessary forthe effective implementation of the Clean Water Act
As of 2016, EMB has Designated 31 water quality management area
all over the country.

31

Industrial/Commercial Monitoring
Total Number of Establishments monitored within the
Manila Bay Region from CY 2011 – 2015

Universe/
Baseline
9,600

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Total

NCR

3,800

730

738

986

377

523

3354

RIII

3,800

715

115

845

739

629

3041

RIV – A

2,000

633

132

676

461

492

2394

TOTAL

9,600

2,078

985

2,507

1,577

1644

8791

Regions32

Industrial / Commercial Establishments within
the Manila Bay Region with Discharge Permit
from 2011 – 2015

Regions

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Total numberofestablishmentwith discharge
permitTotal number
establishment
monitored%
Establishments
Monitored inCompliancewith theEffluent
Standards

NCR

352

343

106

280

291

1372

3354

40.9%

R3

211

90

298

510

408

1517

3041

49.88%

R4A

292

108

217

317

169

1103

2394

49.06%

Grand
Total

3992

8791

45.41%

33

Total BOD Loading ( kg/day) of theEstablishments Monitored from 2011 – 2015
Manila Bay
RegionTotal Number
Establishment
Monitored

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Total BOD load

NCR

3354

6265.024862.03509.83529.01488.2612654.15

R3

3041

2297.9476.76

2458.90 4565.46

5342.3714741.43

R4A

2394

2755.60

202.581270.66855.674716.719801.22

Total

8791

11318.56

5141.37 4239.39 5950.14

10547.36

37196.8

34

BOD Loading (kg/day) of Establishments
monitored with DP from 2011 – 2015

Manila Bay Total Number
Regionof Industries
with DP
NCR
1372

2011
BOD Load

2013
BOD load

2259.85

2012
BOD
load
296.62

41.31

2014
BOD
load
778.74

2015
BOD
load
154.8

Total
BOD
load
3531.32

R3

1517

1596.1942.44

397.024930.394650.5411616.58

R4A

1103

1604.5021.26

996.651278.48495.934396.82

Total

3992

5460.54360.321434.98

6987.61

5301.27 19544.72

35

Sewage, Sewage Generation and
Pollution Load in Metro Manila

36

Status of Effluent Emission Load from
Municipal Water

37

Characteristics of Raw Domestic Sewage
Cavite2

BOD5 (mg/l)

CentralManila1
42-27338-132

Valenzuela 3 Quezon City
East4
123-454
5-25

San
Mateo5
6-21

2004 Master
Plan6
150-350

COD (mg/l)

56-27697-219212-1004

20-43

13-51

300-700

TSS (mg/l)

15-89

7-35

25-1006

8-130

38-15150-150TN (mg/l)

14-81

11-40

10-144

4-36

17-93

50-60

TP (mg/l)

3-14

3-6

1-12

0.06-46

8-15

NO3 (mg/l)

0.1-1

0.7-1.3

0.1-8

0.2-0.45

O & G (mg/l)

4-58

1.6-5.1

1-6-

0.461.29
0.150.48-

NH4 (mg/l)

25-39

11-34

1-294

1.2-2.9

1.7-7.0-

Total
Coliform(MPN/100ml)

3x106≥16x106

3x106≥16x106

3x106≥16x106

-

-

-

Fecal
Coliform(MPN/100ml)

2x106≥16x106

1.4x10611x106

4x10616x106

Parameter-108-109-38

Domestic Pollution Loading in Metro Manila in
Areas
Covered
by
the
Two
MWSS
Concessionaires
Sewage, Sewage Generation and BOD Loading (East Sector)
Year

Population

Total (cmd)

BOD
Loading (kgBOD/day)

2013
2014
2015
2016

6,848,161
6,947,079
7,047,534
7,132,162

1,193,848.03
1,214,869.26
1,263,438.95
1,472,541.75

68,040.00
70,761.60
73,591.20
76,536.00

BOD
Loading
Treated by
STP
10,426.00
14,609.00
11,877.00
8,477.00% Actual Target

15.32 %
20.65 %
16.14 %
11.08 %

Sewage, Sewage Generation and BOD Loading (West Sector)
Year

Population

Waste
Generation
(cmd)

BOD
Loading (kgBOD/day)% Actual Target

58,876.80

BOD
Loading
Treated by
STP
29121.00

2016

9,889,165

1,423,534

Total:

17021327

2896075.75

135412.80

37598.00

27.76 %

49.46 %

39

Status of Coordination with the Plans to
Develop Wastewater Treatment System
The DENR as the lead agency in the implementation of the
Clean Water Act and the Supreme Court Order to Clean Manila
Bay, regularly call mettings with concerned agencies for the
successful implementation of the said Act and the Operational
Plan for the Manila bay Coastal Strategy specifically on
pollution reduction issues
The meetings/workshops discussed:
MWSS- Status of accomplishment in terms of sewerage andsanitation management and the Road Map for completion ofwaste water treatment facilities in Metro Manila.
LWUA- Status of sewerage and sanitation management outside
Metro manila and the No. Of LGUs and Water District with
Septage Treatment Facilities
40

Status of Coordination with the Plans to
Develop Wastewater Treatment System
LGUs –Projects identified for inclusion in the sewerage andseptage and management program for submission to DPWH.
Inventory of household and with septic tanks. Preparation ofordenance for all LGUs to have sewerage and sanitation
facilities
DPWH- Status of NSSMP and their projects with the World Bankon the provision of WTF in 17 Major cities
NEDA-ADB – on the preparation of feasibility studies on
sewerage and sanitation management for 34 municipality.
EMB – provision of assistance to LGUs in the preparation offeasibility studies on sewerage and sanitation management intheir municipality.

41

Issues and Challenges on the Water
Environment Legislation•

Inadequate logistical support to strictly enforce the cleanwater act and related laws (financial and technical)•

Inadequate capacity of the law implementers especially at the
local level.

•

Low awareness of the stakeholders on the existing law, rules
and regulations on wastewater management•

Weak cooperation among different government agencies andLocal Government Units, hence derail law enforcement•

Big investment on the part of industrial establishments to put
up WTF as a results of the inclusion of additional parametersin the new effluent standard (NO3, PO4)

42

Thank you!