Legal foundation and predecessor rules
- The Order amends Section Nos. 68 and 69, Chapter III of the 1978 NPCC Rules and Regulations.
- The Order sets water classification and water quality criteria that apply within the framework of the amended Chapter III rules.
Water classification: beneficial use system
- The quality of Philippine waters must be maintained in a safe and satisfactory condition based on their best usages. Section 68 provides this as the governing standard.
- All waters must be classified according to beneficial usages under Section 68(a) through Section 68(c).
- The classification system links water bodies to protective standards intended to maintain suitability for designated uses.
Fresh surface waters classifications
- Fresh Surface Waters (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc.) are classified under Section 68(a) with beneficial uses Class AA, Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D.
- Class AA (Public Water Supply Class I) is intended for waters with uninhabited and otherwise protected watersheds requiring only approved disinfection to meet the National Standards for Drinking Water (NSDW) of the Philippines.
- Class A (Public Water Supply Class II) applies where water sources require complete treatment—coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection—to meet the NSDW.
- Class B includes Recreational Water Class I (primary contact recreation such as bathing, swimming, skin diving, especially for tourism purposes).
- Class C includes Fishery Water for propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources, Recreational Water Class II (boatings, etc.), and Industrial Water Supply Class I (manufacturing processes after treatment).
- Class D includes agriculture/irrigation/livestock watering, Industrial Water Supply Class II (e.g., cooling), and other inland waters assigned by their quality to this classification.
Coastal and marine water classifications
- Coastal and Marine Waters are classified under Section 68(b) into Class SA, Class SB, Class SC, and Class SD.
- Class SA covers waters suitable for propagation, survival and harvesting of shellfish for commercial purposes, and waters in tourist zones and national marine parks and reserves established under Presidential Proclamation No. 1801 and those declared as such by the appropriate government agency, plus coral reef parks and reserves designated by law and concerned authorities.
- Class SB covers Recreational Water Class I (areas regularly used by the public for bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc.) and Fishery Water Class I spawning areas for Chanos (including “Bangus”) and similar species.
- Class SC covers Recreational Water Class II (e.g., boating) and Fishery Water Class II (commercial and sustenance fishing), and marshy and/or mangrove areas declared as fish and wildlife sanctuaries.
- Class SD covers Industrial Water Supply Class II (e.g., cooling) and other coastal and marine waters assigned by their quality to this classification.
Classification rules and reclassification procedure
- A designated classification does not preclude use for other purposes of lower classification provided the lower-class use does not prejudice the quality required for the designated waters. Section 68(c)(1).
- Water classifications are arranged by degree of protection required; Class AA and SA require generally the most stringent protection, while Class D and SD require the least stringent protection for fresh surface waters and marine/coastal waters, respectively. Section 68(c)(2).
- The water quality criteria objective is to maintain the minimum conditions necessary to assure suitability for the designated use/classification. Section 68(c)(3).
- A person regulated under the rules or with a substantial interest in the chapter may seek reclassification by filing a petition with the DENR containing all necessary information supporting the petition. Section 68(c)(4).
- Reclassifications must be adopted only after public notice and hearing and upon affirmative findings by the DENR Regional Office concerned that:
- The proposed reclassification will establish the present and future most beneficial use of the waters. Section 68(c)(5)(i).
- The proposed reclassification is clearly in the public interest. Section 68(c)(5)(ii).
- The proposed designated use is attainable, considering environmental, technological, social, economic and institutional factors. Section 68(c)(5)(iii).
- For classification or reclassification, minimum water quality parameters to consider are dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total coliform organisms. Section 68(c)(6).
General water quality prohibitions
- Section 69(a) requires that all surface waters be free from:
- Domestic, industrial, agricultural, or other man-induced non-thermal components of discharges that:
- settle to form putrescent deposits or create a nuisance; or
- float as debris, scum, oil, or other matter in amounts forming nuisances; or
- cause color, odor, taste, turbidity, or other conditions to a degree creating a nuisance; or
- are acutely toxic; or
- occur at concentrations that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic to humans or to significant, locally occurring wildlife or aquatic species; or
- pose a serious danger to public health, safety or welfare. Section 69(a)(1).
- Thermal components of discharges that:
- create nuisance; or
- increase the temperature of the receiving body of water (RBW) enough to cause substantial damage or harm to aquatic life or vegetation or to interfere with beneficial uses assigned to the RBW. Section 69(a)(2).
- Domestic, industrial, agricultural, or other man-induced non-thermal components of discharges that:
Fresh water criteria and limits
- Section 69(b) establishes minimum water quality criteria for fresh waters.
- For conventional and other pollutants affecting aesthetics and oxygen demand, the governing limits by class are found in Table 1. Section 69(b)(1)(a).
- Table 1 numerical limits (fresh waters) are enforced per class using the listed units and standards, including:
- Color (PCU): 15 (Class AA), 50 (Class A), and lower/adjusted thresholds by class.
- Temperature (max. rise in deg. Celsius): 3 (Class AA, A, B, C) and 3 by Class D (as shown in the table), with the same basis wording across classes.
- pH (range): 6.5–8.5 for Class AA, Class A, Class B, Class C, and 6.0–9.0 for Class D.
- Dissolved Oxygen (minimum): 70% satn and 5.0 mg/L for Class AA, Class A, Class B, 60% satn and 5.0 mg/L for Class C, and 40% satn and 3.0 mg/L for Class D.
- 5-Day 20°C BOD: 1 (Class AA), 5 (Class A), 5 (Class B), 7 (10) for Class C and 10 (15) for Class D, as shown.
- Total Suspended Solids: 25 (Class AA), 50 (Class A), and class-specific limits by class as shown.
- Oil/Grease (Petroleum Ether Extracts): nil (Class AA), 1 (Class A), 1 (Class B), 2 (Class C), 5 (Class D).
- Nitrate as Nitrogen (mg/L): 1.0 (Class AA), 10 (Class A), and class-specific thresholds shown for Classes B, C, D.
- Phosphate as Phosphorus (mg/L): nil (Class AA), 0.1 (Class A), class-specific thresholds shown for Classes B, C, D.
- Phenolic Substances as Phenols (mg/L): nil (Class AA), 0.002 (Class A), 0.005 (Class B), and class-specific thresholds shown for Classes C and D.
- Total Coliforms or Fecal Coliforms (MPN/100 mL): class-specific limits shown, including 50 (Class AA), 20 (Class A), 1,000 (Class B), 100 (Class C), and 1,000 (Class D) with additional table footnote standards applying.
- Chloride as Cl (mg/L): 250 (Class AA and Class A) and class-specific thresholds shown for Class C and Class D.
- Copper (mg/L): 1.0 (Class AA and Class A) and class-specific thresholds shown for Class B and lower classes.
- Section 69(b)(2) imposes limits for toxic and other deleterious substances using Table 2 for fresh waters for protection of public health.
- Table 2 provides class-based maximum limits including:
- Arsenic (mg/L): 0.05 for Class AA, A, B, C; 0.01 for Class D.
- Cadmium (mg/L): 0.01 for Class AA, A, B, C; 0.05 for Class D.
- Chromium (hexavalent) (mg/L): 0.05 for Class AA and A; 0.05 for Class B and C as shown; and no value shown where indicated by the table entries.
- Cyanide (mg/L): 0.05 for Class AA, A, B, C.
- Lead (mg/L): 0.05 for Class AA, A, B, C.
- Total Mercury (mg/L): 0.002 for Class AA, A, B, C, and 0.002 for Class D as shown.
- Multiple other organics/pesticides and industrial toxins with class-based limits as shown in Table 2.
- Table 2 footnotes apply where they appear, including interim guidance for organophosphates and organochlorines pending laboratory equipment and guidance regarding specific metals where the 1978 NPCC Rules and Regulations, Section 69 may be considered.
Coastal and marine water criteria and limits
- Section 69(c) establishes criteria for coastal and marine waters.
- For conventional and other pollutants affecting aesthetics and exerting oxygen demand, Table 3 provides limits by class (Class SA, SB, SC, SD). Section 69(c)(1).
- Table 3 imposes enforceable class-based limits, including:
- Temperature (max. rise in deg. Celsius): 3 (Class SA, SB, SC) and 3 (Class SD) as shown.
- pH (range): 6.0–8.5 (Class SA and SB), 6.5–8.5 (Class SC), and 6.0–9.0 (Class SD).
- Dissolved Oxygen (minimum): 70% satn and 5.0 mg/L (Class SA, SB, SC) and 50% satn and 2.0 mg/L (Class SD).
- 5-Day 20°C BOD: 3 (Class SA), 5 (Class SB), 7 (10) (Class SC), and dash value for Class SD as shown.
- Oil/Grease (Petroleum Ether Extracts) (mg/L): 1 (Class SA), 2 (Class SB), 3 (Class SC), 5 (Class SD).
- Phenolic Substances as Phenols (mg/L): nil (Class SA), 0.01 (Class SB), class-specific entries for Class SC and SD.
- Total Coliforms (MPN/100 mL): 70 (Class SA), 1,000 (Class SB), 5,000 (Class SC), and dash value for Class SD as shown.
- Fecal Coliforms (MPN/100 mL): nil (Class SA), 200 (Class SB), and dash values for Classes SC and SD as shown.
- Copper (mg/L): class-specific limits shown, including 0.02 for Class SB and 0.05 for Class SC and SD entries as shown.
- For toxic and other deleterious substances, Table 4 provides maximum limits for Class SA, SB, SC and SD for protection of public health. Section 69(c)(2).
- Table 4 includes maximum limits such as:
- Arsenic (mg/L): 0.05 for Class SA, SB, SC; no value shown for Class SD entries.
- Cadmium (mg/L): 0.01 for Class SA, SB, SC; no value shown for Class SD entries.
- Chromium (hexavalent) (mg/L): 0.05 (Class SA) and 0.1 (Classes SB and SC) as shown.
- Cyanide (mg/L): 0.05 for Class SA, SB, SC.
- Lead (mg/L): 0.05 for Class SA, SB, SC.
- Total Mercury (mg/L): 0.002 for Class SA, SB, SC.
- Other pesticides/industrial toxins with class-based limits as shown in Table 4.
Approved sampling analyses and methods
- Section 69(d) requires that any water sample for classification or determining compliance with water quality criteria must be analyzed using the methods enumerated in Table 5.
- Table 5 also applies to determine compliance to effluent regulations.
- Table 5 designates approved methods for parameters including:
- BOD 5: Azine Modification (Dilution Technique).
- Dissolved Oxygen: Azide Modification (Winkler Method) or membrane electrode (DO meter).
- pH: Glass Electrode Method.
- Oil and Grease: Gravimetric method (Petroleum Ether Extraction).
- Total Suspended Solids: Gravimetric method.
- Total Coliforms / Fecal Coliforms: Multiple-Tube Fermentation Technique or Membrane Filter.
- Phenolic Substances: Chloroform Extraction Method.
- Temperature: use of Mercury-Filled Thermometer.
- Arsenic / Lead / Cadmium / Total Mercury: atomic absorption and cold vapor technique methods as listed.
- Additional analytical methods for organophosphorus compounds, PCB, cyanide, nitrate, phosphate, and chloride as listed.
- Section 69(d) allows other methods found in the Philippine Standard Methods for Air and Water Analysis or the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Waters (published jointly by APHA, American Waterworks Association, and Water Pollution Control Federation of the U.S.) or other methods the DENR may prescribe.
Monitoring guide by industry types
- Section 69(e) provides significant parameters for monitoring purposes by selected industry types.
- Table 6 lists each type of industry and corresponding “significant wastewater parameters,” including parameters like BOD 5, COD, pH, suspended solids, dissolved solids, oil and grease, chromium (hexavalent), phenols, phosphates, chlorides, cyanide, heavy metals (e.g., Cr, Cd, Hg), and E. coli for pulp and paper.
- The table links specific parameter sets to industry categories such as Beverage Industry, Cement/Concrete/Lime/Gypsum, Dairy Processing, Fertilizer, Leather Tanning, Livestock, Meat/Fish/Fruit Canning, Metal Finishing, Mining, Petroleum Refining, Plastic Materials & Synthetic, Pulp & Paper, Steel, Sugar Cane Processing, Textile Mill Industry, and Thermal Power Generation.
Effectivity, implementation timeframe
- The Order becomes effective thirty (30) days after publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation.
- The Order sets a comprehensive set of water classification and quality criteria and corresponding approved analysis methods for compliance determinations.