Wastewater

• Wastewater


  Waste in liquid state containing pollutants
• Point Source


  • Pollution comes mainly from industrial facilities and municipal wastewater
• Non-point Source


  • Pollution comes from agricultural runoff, construction sites, land water, and other land disturbances
• Types of Wastewater

  • Domestic wastewater (municipal wastewater/sewage)
  • Industrial wastewater
  • Agricultural wastewater
• Domestic wastewater


  • Often contains high concentrations of organic carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen, and may contain pesticides, toxic chemicals, salts, inorganic solids, pathogenic bacteria and viruses
• Agricultural wastewater


  • Typically high in nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), biodegradable organic carbon, pesticide residues, and fecal coliform bacteria (bacteria that normally live in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals and indicate contamination by animal wastes)
• RA9275


  The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial establishments, agriculture and community/household activities)
• DAO 2016-08


  Modification of DENR Administrative Order 1990-35 and Repealing of DENR Administrative Order 1990-34, Water Quality Guidelines and Effluent Standards 2016
• General Effluent Standard (GES) for discharge to Class C water bodies

  • Increase in TSS from DAO 1990-35 to DAO 2016-08
  • New Parameters in DAO 2016-08: Fecal Coliform, Ammonia, Nitrate, Phosphate
  • Increase in Ammonia from DAO 2016-08 to DAO 2021-19
  • Increase in Phosphate from DAO 2016-08 to DAO 2021-19
  • Increase in Surfactant from DAO 1990-35 to DAO 2016-08
• Water Body Classification and Usage of Freshwater

  • Class AA - Good for Drinking
  • Class A - sources of water supply
  • Class B - skin contact is okay
  • Class C - no skin contact allowed, for fishing
  • Class D - for transportation only
• Water Body Classification and Usage of Saltwater

  • Class SA - protected waters
  • Class SB - skin contact allowed
  • Class SC - no skin contact
  • Class SD - For navigation and transportation only
• Grace Period (DAO 2016-08)

  Consistent with the Clean Water Act, a grace period of not more than five (5) years is provided in cases wherein: A. Values for General Effluent standard (GES) have become stringent compared to the values in DAO 1990 – 35 (the amended effluent standards). In such cases DAO 1990 – 35 shall apply during the grace period. B. 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 the establishments compliance schedule within the prescribed grace period.
• Fines and penalties


  • Fines of 10,000 to 200,000 pesos for every day of violation
  • Closure, suspension and development or construction or cessation of operations
  • 2 to 4 years imprisonment for failure to clean up and 50,000 to 100,000 for every day of violation
• Wastewater Treatment


  1. Pre-Treatment: bar screening, grit removal

  2. Primary Treatment: Clarifier, Sedimentation Tank

  3. Secondary Treatment: Trickling filter, Activated sludge, Oxidation Ponds, Rotating biological contactor

  4. Tertiary Treatment: Chemical Precipitation, Disinfection