The state of water resources in the Philippines - Greenpeace

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(g) Not more than 60 mg/L increase (dry season) (h) If effluent is the sole source of supply for irrigation, the maximum limits are 1,500 mg/L and 1,000 mg/L, respectively, for old industries and new industries. (i) Not present in concentration to affect fish flavor or taste or tainting. (j) If effluent is used to irrigate vegetable and fruit crops which may be eaten raw, Fecal Coliforms should be less than 500 MPN/100 mL Industry Classification Based on BOD of Raw Wastewaters Produced 1. Industries producing BOD within 3,000 to 10,000 mg/L 2. Industries producing BOD within 10,000 to 30,000 mg/L Maximum Allowable Limits in mg/L, according to Time Period and Receiving Body of Water Effectivity date - Dec. 31, 1991 Inland Waters Coastal Waters (Class SC (Class C & D) & SD) 650 or 320 or 90% 95% removal removal 1,000 or 95% removal 2,000 or 90% removal 3,000 or 90% removal Jan. 1, 1992-Dec. 31, 1994 Inland Waters Coastal Waters (Class C (Class SC & D) & SD) 200 or 320 or 97% 95% removal removal 600 or 97% removal 900 or 97% removal 1,000 or 95% removal 1,500 or 95% removal 3. Industries producing more than or 1,500 or 30,000 mg/L 95% removal Table 10. Interim effluent standards for BOD applicable to old or existing industries producing strong industrial wastes (1990 to1994) Industry Classification Based on BOD of Raw Wastewater Maximum Allowable Limits in mg/L Based on Receiving Body of Water Inland Waters Coastal Waters (Class C & D) (Class SC & SD) 1. Industries producing within 3,000 to 10,000 mg BOD/L 130 or 98% removal 200 or 97% removal 2. Industries producing within 10,000 to 30,000 mg BOD/L 200 or 99% removal 600 or 97% removal 3. Industries producing more than 30,000 mg BOD/L 300 or 99% removal 900 or 97% removal Table 11. Effluent standards for new industries producing strong wastes (including old or existing industries producing strong waste whose wastewater treatment plants are still to be constructed) A report by the United Nations Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO) mentions that while there are several standards already developed, the Philippine system of industrial effluent standards appears to be relatively insensitive to actual ambient conditions and to different cost structures due to their use of concentration-based standards. The report observes that this situation allows polluters to meet standards by dilution and encourage the over-extraction of ground water in heavily industrialized areas (UNIDO, 1999). In addition, these standards do not adequately assess today's water quality especially with the proliferation of toxic chemicals used for and as a byproduct of modern-day production processes and other economic activities. Beryllium, GREENPEACE | The state of water in the Philippines 38
copper, nickel, tin, vanadium and zinc and many of the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are being used by the semiconductor and electronics industries, one of the country's biggest export earners, but they are not included in the Philippine water standards. Thus, they are not routinely tested. Furthermore, there are no existing facilities in the country that are able to test and monitor the industrial pollutants that come with more modern technologies and production processes. E. Government agencies involved in regulating water use, water quality control, and management More than 30 government agencies and offices are said to be involved in performing the different aspects or components of water resources management and development in the country. These agencies function separately dealing mainly with each of the sectors of water supply, irrigation, hydropower, flood control, pollution, and watershed management (Dayrit, H, 2001). According to Madrazo in her paper entitled “Water Issues in the context of Sustainable Development”, at the national level, the NWRB is responsible for policy formulation, administration and enforcement of the Water Code of the Philippines. In this paper, it was observed that other agencies perform policy formulation as it relates to their mandates. She then identifies the following eight agencies that have water related mandates: • Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for flood control and drainage (this responsibility has recently been transferred to the Metro Manila Development Authority) • Department of Health (DOH) for sanitation • Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for watershed protection and water quality • Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for LGU-managed water supply, and sewerage and sanitation systems and capability building • National Power Corporation (NPC) for hydropower development • National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) for irrigation development • Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for water supply, sewerage, and sanitation in Metro Manila and, partially, in its neighboring provinces; and • Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for the Water Districts which manage water supply and sewerage systems. Madrazo also mentions that the existing regulatory set-up in the Philippines is quite complicated and poses problems on conflicts of interests and possible overlapping of responsibilities that hinders effective water resources management. A similar view is shared by NWRB’s Executive Director, Hector Dayrit, with the following observations: GREENPEACE | The state of water in the Philippines 39
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 and 20: As stated in the EMB report, domest
Page 21 and 22: In addition, the Philippines has al
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: Parameter Unit Protected Waters Cat
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

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