The state of water resources in the Philippines - Greenpeace

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A study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted in 2001 (as cited in National Economic Development Authority’s document on the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan 2004-2010) states that around 700 industrial establishments in the Philippines generate about 273,000 tons of hazardous wastes per annum. It was further estimated that with 5,000 potential hazardous waste generators, about 2.41 million tons of hazardous wastes will be generated. At present, the report added, there is no integrated treatment facility for hazardous wastes in the country although there are about 95 small to mediumscale treatment facilities that treat hazardous wastes (i.e., used oil, sludge). There is approximately 50,000 tons of hazardous wastes stored on or offsite due to lack of proper treatment, recovery and recycling facilities. Sometimes they end up being recycled in backyard operations further putting at risk workers and communities hosting these informal recycling facilities. Other hazardous wastes are exported to other countries for recovery and disposal (i.e. metal bearing sludge, used solvents and electronic wastes) and treatment (e.g. PCB). Non-point sources Data on water pollution from non-point sources are often excluded in terms of official statistics. The PEM 2003 even mentions that the technology to monitor and control point sources has been well developed, while non-point sources are found to be difficult to monitor and control. If solid waste, for instance, is not collected, treated and disposed properly, the organic and toxic components of household, industrial, and hospital waste are mixed with rain and groundwater. It has also been established that this creates an organic and inorganic mixture, composed of heavy metals and poly-organic and biological pathogenic toxins, which causes illness and even deaths (PEM, 2001). However, monitoring of non-point sources, especially the contribution of solid waste, is scarce, and no attempt has been made thus far to create an inventory. The common non-point sources are urban runoff and agricultural runoff (PEM, 2003; EMB, 2006). Table 4 (shown in next page) illustrates the distribution of BOD generation for the different regions. As shown in this table, reduced quality of water resources had been observed especially in densely populated areas, and regions of industrial and agricultural activities. In both reports (PEM 2003, EMB 2006), four regions were found to have an unsatisfactory rating for the water quality criteria. These include the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog Region (Region IV), Central Luzon (Region III), and Central Visayas (Region VII). The Ilocos region (Region I) is also highlighted in this table as it is one of the highest contributors to agricultural BOD generation. GREENPEACE | The state of water in the Philippines 20
In addition, the Philippines has also experienced major water-related incidents that impact on water quality and the water resources itself. The EMB reported that from 2001 to 2005, several water-related incidents occurred, which include oil/chemical spills, mine tailings spill incidents, and illegal dumping of wastes, which resulted in fish kills and water body contamination. Region No. of Households Domestic BOD Generation No. of Mfg. Establishments Industrial BOD Generation Agriculture Land Area (in km2) Agricultural BOD Generation NCR Metro Manila 2,132,989 17.6% 7,774 42.5% 0 0 CAR-Cordillera Administrative Region 263,816 1.7% 88 0.6% 190,235 2.3% I Ilocos 831,549 5.2% 344 3.3% 415,434 11.5% II Cagayan Valley 554,004 3.5% 146 0.2% 709,964 6.1% III Central Luzon 1,632,047 9.9% 1,840 9.0% 653,607 9.1% IV Southern Tagalog 2,410,972 14.6% 3,806 14.1% 1,410,315 13.3% V Bicol 891,541 5.8% 234 3.1% 1,004,425 5.4% VI Western Visayas 1,211,547 7.7% 580 5.1% 889,549 8.1% VII Central Visayas 1,129,317 7.1% 1,432 7.4% 665,446 10.6% VIII Eastern Visayas 715,025 4.5% 169 1.1% 957,329 2.6% IX Western Mindanao 595,728 3.8% 238 3.3% 763,796 5.2% X Northern Mindanao 542,075 3.4% 311 2.2% 828,515 9.1% XI Southern Mindanao 1,066,199 6.4% 727 6.6% 1,103,297 8.6% XII Central Mindanao 501,915 3.2% 186 0.5% 706,472 3.9% ARMM - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao 393,269 3.0% 13 0 - 3.0% CARAGA 393,362 2.6% 144 0.9% - 1.2% Table 4. BOD generation per region (Source: Philippines Environment Monitor 2003 E. Health and environmental problems Pollution of rivers, streams, and lakes contaminate ground and surface waters, thus exposing the population to environmentally-related diseases. The relationship between polluted water and disease has now been firmly established and accepted. Much of the surface water in urban areas is a public health risk while rural surface waters are also sources of disease. The World Bank estimates that exposure to water pollution and poor sanitation account for one-sixth of reported disease cases, and nearly 6,000 premature deaths per year. The cost of GREENPEACE | The state of water in the Philippines 21
Page 1 and 2: G The state of water resources in t
Page 3 and 4: Contents 4 List of tables 5 Definit
Page 5 and 6: Definition of terms Aquifer - a geo
Page 7 and 8: Surface water - all water which is
Page 9 and 10: NCR NPC OA PRRP POPs PNSDW PBE PRIM
Page 11 and 12: I. Surface water and groundwater re
Page 13 and 14: II. Quality of water resources The
Page 15 and 16: The EMB report on monitoring of DO
Page 17 and 18: The Marilao River was the subject o
Page 19: As stated in the EMB report, domest
Page 23 and 24: In another study conducted on banan
Page 25 and 26: health (for example, malignant tumo
Page 27 and 28: Based on 2003 data, 63 percent of g
Page 29 and 30: The Greenpeace report Crisis or Opp
Page 31 and 32: E. Other threats to water availabil
Page 33 and 34: Laws Republic Act No. 8041, Nationa
Page 35 and 36: C. Ambient water quality standards
Page 37 and 38: Parameter Unit Protected Waters Cat
Page 39 and 40: copper, nickel, tin, vanadium and z
Page 41 and 42: infrastructure development with res
Page 43 and 44: Chloride (PVC) from their new mobil
Page 45 and 46: References Abanto, Arnel. 2001. Phi
Page 47 and 48: http://www.unido.org/userfiles/timm
Page 49: Cole, Stephen. May 1, 1998. The Eme

The state of water resources in the Philippines - Greenpeace

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