Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- City of Manila shares responsibility for water quality management.
- Measures to prevent and control water pollution are mandated.
- Promotes public health through appropriate wastewater management.
Sewerage and Septage Management Principles
- Mandatory proper sewage or septage management for all buildings (residential, commercial, industrial, government).
- Prohibition of untreated excreta and wastewater discharge into open or piped drainage systems.
- No wastewater discharge without proper treatment.
Definition of Terms
- Desludging: Cleaning/removal of accumulated domestic sludge/septage.
- Domestic Sludge: Settled solid particles from domestic sewage.
- DENR: Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
- DOH: Department of Health.
- EMB: Environmental Management Bureau.
- Septage: Combination of scum, sludge, and liquid from household septic tanks.
- Hygienic Septic Tank: Closed septic tank preventing leaching.
- Septic Tank: Watertight receptacle designed for sewage sedimentation and digestion.
- Septage Treatment Plant: Structures for treating septage per DENR effluent standards.
- Sewage: Wastewater containing human, animal, or vegetable waste.
- Sewer: Artificial conduit for carrying sewage.
- MWSS: Manila Water and Sewerage System.
- Wastewater Treatment Plant: Facilities treating sewage including possible septage.
Sewage Disposal System Requirements
- All establishments mandated to have proper sewage disposal (septic tanks for residences, treatment facilities for others).
- Existing residences must have hygienic septic tanks meeting national standards.
- Prohibition of structures built atop septic tanks.
- Commercial/industrial/institutional buildings must have operational wastewater treatment conforming to EMB-DENR and DOH standards.
- New building plans require approval of sanitary plumbing designs conforming to national standards.
- Pre-treatment facilities required in sewered areas, verified by City Building Official.
- Communal/shared septic tanks permitted in dense or clustered areas given approval.
Mandatory Desludging of Septic Tanks
- Desludging required every 3-5 years or when sludge reaches one-third of tank volume.
- Septic tanks must be accessible at all times.
- Repairs/replacement required for inaccessible tanks at owner's expense.
- Inspections by authorized sanitary or barangay officials in coordination with MWSS representatives.
- Non-compliance leads to penalties under the ordinance.
Design Standards for Septic Tanks
- Stormwater excluded from septic tank inflow.
- Adherence to national design standards mandatory.
- Building Official responsible for enforcement during plan approval and inspections.
Regulation of Desludgers
- Removal and transport of septage by accredited haulers only.
- Disposal restricted to approved septage treatment facilities per DOH regulations.
- Prohibition of disposal in unauthorized areas such as water bodies, agricultural lands, and drainage systems.
Permitting Requirements
- Environmental Sanitation Clearance (ESC) mandatory for issuance of building and business permits.
Institutional Arrangements
- City Environment and Natural Resource Office (CENRO) tasked with:
- Inspection assistance with Building Official.
- Maintaining a database of septic tank conditions and desludging compliance.
- Enforcing DOH and EMB-DENR regulations on septage transport and treatment.
- Accrediting private desludging service providers.
- Assisting in issuing sanitary permits and conducting training for septage workers.
- Coordinating opening of septic tanks during inspections.
- Enforcing sewer connections and penalties for illegal disconnections.
- Monitoring construction to prevent encroachment and water quality.
- Implementing public information and education campaigns.
Desludging Fees
- Residential desludging provided free every five years by water concessionaires.
- Charges of 10% of basic water consumption imposed for desludging beyond concessionaire coverage.
- City authorized to subsidize operation and maintenance costs through local taxes and service fees.
Mandatory Connection to Sewer Lines
- Mandatory connection to existing sewer mains for all sewage-generating buildings.
- City will assist Maynilad in connecting various facilities to sewer systems.
- Connections subject to appropriate sewerage service charges unless independent systems are used.
Maintenance of Drainage System
- City mandated to maintain drainage in sanitary and good repair conditions.
Prohibited Acts
- Prohibits littering, dumping of waste in public places such as roads, canals, and parks.
- Prohibits refusal to desludge septic tanks.
- Prohibits refusal to connect to available sewage lines.
Penalties
- Non-compliance after one year from effectivity subjects owners to fines (specific amounts not detailed).
Funding
- City Government shall allocate necessary funds for ordinance implementation.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of any part does not affect the rest of the ordinance.
Repealing Clause
- Repeals inconsistent ordinances or provisions.
Effectivity
- Ordinance effective upon approval on May 17, 2016.