Principle of Sewerage and Septage Management
- Requires all buildings (residential, commercial, industrial, government) to have proper septic or sewerage systems
- Prohibits discharge of untreated human excreta and wastewater into open drains or environment
- Aims to prevent pollution of surface and groundwater
Definitions
- Desludging: Process of removing sludge or septage from septic tanks
- Septage: Combination of sludge, scum, and liquid from septic tanks
- Hygienic Septic Tank: Closed, watertight septic tank preventing leaching into soil
- Septic Tank: Watertight receptacle for sedimentation and digestion of sewage, discharging treated effluent appropriately
- Septage Treatment Plant: Facility to treat septage to meet environmental standards
- Sanitary Inspector: Official enforcing sanitary regulations
- Others: Sewage, Sewer, DOH, DENR, EMB, MWSS, Maynilad, LLDA, etc., defined for clarity
Sewage Disposal Requirements
- All existing and new residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings must have compliant septic tanks or wastewater treatment facilities
- New building plans must conform to national plumbing and environmental standards
- Communal septic tanks may be used with proper approval where feasible
Mandatory Desludging
- Septic tanks must be desludged every 3 to 5 years or when sludge reaches 1/3 volume
- Tanks must be accessible at all times; no structures allowed atop septic tanks
- Inspection and desludging supervised by City Health Office Sanitary Inspectors or authorized officials
- Penalties for failing to comply
Design and Regulation of Septic Tanks
- Must exclude stormwater inflow and meet national standards
- Building Official responsible for ensuring compliance in design and inspection
- Disposal of septage through accredited haulers only; illegal dumping prohibited
Permitting and Institutional Roles
- Sanitary Permit from City Health Office mandatory for Business and Building Permit applications
- EPNRO (Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Office) to assist in inspection, database maintenance, transport regulation, enforcement, monitoring, and education
- Involves City Health Office, Lake Management Office, City Building Office in implementation
Septage Services and Sewer Connection
- Consumers entitled to free desludging and treatment of septage at least once every five years
- Mandatory connection to existing sewer mains for buildings producing sewage
- City committed to maintaining drainage systems in cooperation with water concessionaires
Prohibited Acts
- Littering, dumping sewage or solid waste in public places or bodies of water
- Refusal to desludge or connect to sewer lines where available
- Unauthorized transport or disposal of sewage sludge
Penalties
- First offense: Fine of Php 3,000
- Second offense: Fine of Php 5,000
- Third offense: License revocation for commercial/factory establishments
- Repeat violators' names to be published
- Noncompliance may lead to cancellation of business permits
Implementation and Funding
- Offices designated to enforce and monitor ordinance include ESC, CHO, EPNRO, LMO, and CBO
- City Mayor tasked with issuing Implementing Rules and Regulations within 30 days of ordinance approval
- One-year moratorium allowed for compliance
- City government to allocate necessary funds and assist in septic tank establishment in depressed areas
Legal Provisions
- Separability clause ensures that invalidity of any provision does not affect the rest
- Repealing clause abolishes inconsistent prior ordinances
- Mandates publication of the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation