DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

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DENR Administrative Order

No. 2008 - XX
SUBJECT:

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of

2008, Revising DAO 34 and 35, Series of 1990

Pursuant to Section 19e and 19f of the Republic Act 9275, otherwise known as the
Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) hereby adopts and promulgates these Water Quality Guidelines
and General Effluent Standards.
Section 1.0 Title
These rules and regulations shall be known as the "Water Quality Guidelines
(WQG) and General Effluent Standards (GES) of 2008".
Section 2.0 Scope and Coverage
The WQG applies to all water bodies in the country, inland surface water, marine
waters, and groundwater; and shall be used for classifying water bodies,
determining time trends, evaluating stages of deterioration or enhancement in
water quality, and as basis for taking positive actions in preventing, controlling, or
abating water pollution. Moreover, this WQG shall be used in designating nonattainment areas (NAA).
The GES applies to all point sources of pollution discharged to all water bodies in
the country. Until such time that industry-specific standards are promulgated, the
GES shall be used regardless of the industry category.
Section 3.0 Definition of Terms
For the purposes of this Administrative Order, the following terms and acronyms
shall have the following meanings:
"Acute Toxicity" means lethal or sub lethal severe adverse effect(s) to an organism
when exposed to a toxic pollutant(s) for a relatively short period of time. In aquatic
toxicity tests, an effect observed in 96 hours or less is typically considered acute.
Aesthetic Value means freedom from visible materials that will settle to form
objectionable deposits, floating debris, oil, scum, and other matter; substances
producing objectionable color, odor, taste, or turbidity; and substances and
conditions that produce undesirable aquatic life. Excellent aesthetic value implies,
not only absence or natural levels of aesthetic pollutants, but also conformance of
observed values with the numerical criteria prescribed for the aesthetic parameters
under Class AA, Class A, and Class SA. Similarly, very good aesthetic value or
good aesthetic value implies, not only the presence of aesthetic pollutants to a
certain extent, but also conformance of observed values for the aesthetic

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

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parameters with the numerical criteria prescribed for them under Class B and
Class SB or Class C and Class SC, respectively.
Aquatic Life means all organisms living in freshwater, brackish, and marine
environments.
Aquifer refers to layer of water-bearing rock located underground that transmits
water in sufficient quantity to supply pumping wells or natural springs.
Beneficial Use means the use of the environment or any element or segment
thereof, conducive to public or private welfare, safety and health; and shall include,
but not limited to, the use of water for domestic, municipal, irrigation, power
generation, fisheries, livestock raising, industrial, recreational, and other purposes.
"Brackish Water" means those waters in which the natural level of salinity is
greater than one half (0.5) part per thousand (ppt) but less than 30 ppt, 95 percent
or more of the time.
"Chronic Toxicity" means lethal or sub lethal adverse effect(s) to an organism or
its progeny, based on various physiological measurements including but not limited
to growth, survival, or reproductive success when exposed to a toxic pollutant(s) for
a relatively long period of time. The methods commonly used to estimate chronic
effects involve exposures of typically four (4) days or more.
Classification/Reclassification of Philippine Waters refers to the
categorization of all water bodies taking into account, among others, the following:
(1) existing quality of the water body; (2) size, depth, surface area covered, volume,
direction, rate of flow, and gradient of stream; (3) most beneficial existing and
future use of said bodies of water and lands bordering them, such as for residential,
agricultural, aquacultural, commercial, industrial, navigational, recreational,
wildlife conservation, and aesthetic purposes; and (4) vulnerability of surface and
groundwater to contamination from pollutive and hazardous wastes, agricultural
chemicals, and underground storage tanks of petroleum products.
Clean-up Operations refer to activities involving the removal of pollutants
discharged or spilled into a water body and its surrounding areas, and the
restoration of the affected areas to their former physical, chemical, and biological
state or conditions.
"Clean Water Act (CWA)" refers to Republic Act 9275 also known as the Philippine
Clean Water Act of 2004.
Commercial Fishing means the taking of fishery species by passive or active
gear for trade, business, or profit beyond municipal, subsistence, or sports fishing.
It is further classified based on size of fishing vessels into small scale (3.1 gross
tons (GT) up to 20 GT vessels), medium scale (20.1 GT up to 150 GT vessels), and
large-scale commercial fishing with more than 150 GT fishing vessels.
Contamination refers to the introduction of substances not found in the natural
composition of water that make the water less desirable or unfit for intended use.
Department refers to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

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DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

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Discharge includes, but is not limited to, the act of spilling, leaking, pumping,
pouring, emitting, emptying, releasing, or dumping of any material into a water
body or onto land from which it might flow or drain into said water.
Drinking Water refers to water intended for human consumption or for use in
food preparation.
Dumping means any unauthorized or illegal disposal into any body of water or
land of wastes or toxic or hazardous material: Provided, that it does not mean a
release of effluent coming from commercial, industrial, and domestic sources,
which are within the effluent standards.
Ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism within a given natural and/or
cultural area where community participation, conservation, and management of
biodiversity, respect for culture and indigenous knowledge systems and practices,
environmental education and ethics as well as economic benefits are fostered and
pursued for the enrichment of host communities and satisfaction of visitors.
Effluent refers to discharges from known source, which is passed into a body of
water or land, or wastewater flowing out of a manufacturing plant, industrial plant
including domestic, commercial, and recreational facilities.
Effluent Standards refer to any legal restriction or limitation on quantities, rates,
and/or concentrations or any combination thereof, of physical, chemical, or
biological parameters of effluent, which a person or point source is allowed to
discharge into a body of water or land.
"Fish and Other Wildlife" means birds, fish, shellfish, mammals, and all other
classes of wild aquatic and land organisms and all types of vegetation upon which
they are dependent, including all indigenous species.
Flowrate-based Effluent Standards are standards based on the volume of
effluent discharges.
Freshwater refers to water containing less than 500 mg/L dissolved common
salt, sodium chloride, such as that in groundwater, rivers, ponds, and lakes.
Geometric Mean is the nth root of the product of a series of n numbers. It is a
calculation to determine an average when the set of numbers covers a wide range.
Results of bacteriological testing often cover such a large range.
Groundwater refers to subsurface water that occurs beneath a water table in
soils and rocks, or in geological formations.
Hazardous Waste means any waste or combination of wastes of solid, liquid,
contained gaseous, or semi-solid form which cause, or contribute to, an increase in
mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness,
taking into account toxicity of such waste, its persistence and degradability in
nature, its potential for accumulation or concentration in tissue, and other factors
that may otherwise cause or contribute to adverse acute or chronic effects on the
health of persons or organism.

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

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Inland Water refers to interior body of water or watercourse such as lakes,

reservoirs, rivers, streams, creeks, etc., that has beneficial usage other than public
water supply or primary contact recreation. Tidal affected rivers or streams are
considered inland waters for purposes of these regulations.
Lake refers to inland body of water, an expanded part of a river, a reservoir
formed by a dam, or a lake basin intermittently or formerly covered by water.
Marine Waters means those of the ocean that lies beyond the limit of coastal
waters and have natural salinity levels of not less than 30 ppt, 95 percent or more
of the time. It is synonymous to saline water, or euhaline seas.
Maximum Allowable Concentration refers to the concentration of a pollutant in
water without causing harmful effects to human and aquatic organisms.
Non-point Source means any source of pollution not identifiable to as point
source to include, but not limited to, runoff from irrigation or rainwater that picks
up pollutants from farms and urban areas.
Percentile is the value of a variable below which a certain percent of
observations fall. Therefore, the 80th percentile is the value (or score) below which
80 percent of the observations may be found.
Philippine Waters include all water bodies within the Philippine territory such
as lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, brooks, ponds, swamps, lagoons, gulfs, bays, and
seas and other bodies of water now existing or which may hereafter exist in the
provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays and the waters around, between,
and connecting the islands of the archipelago regardless of their breadth and
dimensions, the territorial sea, the sea beds, the insular shelves, and all other
waters over which the Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction including the
200-nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf.
Point Source means any identifiable source of pollution with specific point of
discharge into a particular water body.
Pollutant refers to any substance, whether solid, liquid, gaseous, or radioactive;
which directly or indirectly:
(i) Alters the quality of any segment of the receiving water body so as to affect or
tend to affect adversely any beneficial use thereof
(ii) Is hazardous or potentially hazardous to health
(iii) Imparts objectionable odor, temperature change, or physical, chemical, or
biological change to any segment of the water body
(iv) Is in excess of the allowable limits or concentrations or quality standards
specified, or in contravention of the condition, limitation, or restriction
prescribed in this Act.
"Pollution" means the man-made or man-induced alteration of the physical,
chemical, biological, or radiological characteristics and/or integrity of water.

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DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

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Pollution Load refers to the amount of pollutant being discharged into the
environment, which is actually the product of the effluent quality or concentration
and the volumetric rate of discharge.
Potable Water refers to water that is free of microorganisms or diseaseproducing bacteria. In addition, the water should not possess undesirable taste,
odor, color, levels of radioactivity, turbidity, or chemicals; and it should pass the
standards of the PNSDW.
Primary Contact Recreation refers to any form of recreation, where there is
intimate contact of the human body with water, such as swimming, water skiing, or
skin diving.
Primary Water Quality Parameters are the required minimum parameters to be
monitored for each water body. They shall be monitored on a monthly basis.
Protected Water refers to a watercourse or a body of water, or any segment
thereof, that is classified as a source of public water supply, propagation and
harvesting of shellfish for commercial purposes, or spawning areas for
Chanoschanos and similar species, or primary contact recreation, or that which is
designated by competent government authority or by legislation as tourist zone,
national marine park and reserve, including coral reef park and reserve.
"Public Drinking Water Supply" means the source of water for a public drinking
water supplier.
Reservoir refers to pond, lake, or basin, either natural or artificial, designed for
storage, regulation, and control of water.
Secretary refers to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
"Secondary Contact Recreational Activities" means any recreational activities,
such as boating and fishing, in which there is minimal contact by the human body
with the water, and the probability of ingestion of the water is minimal.
Secondary Water Quality Parameters are other water quality parameters that
shall be used in baseline assessment as part of the Environmental Impact
Assessment and other water quality monitoring purposes.
Significant Effluent Quality Parameters are parameters specific to the
processes of an industry or specific to the quality of a discharge point.
Strong Wastewater refers to wastewater whose initial BOD value before
treatment is equal to or greater than 3,000 mg/L.
Surface Water refers to waters, which are open to the atmosphere and subject to
surface runoff.
Toxic Amount is the lowest amount of concentration of toxic pollutants which
may cause chronic or long-term acute or lethal conditions or effects to the aquatic
life or health of persons or which may adversely affect designated water uses.

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

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"Toxicity" refers to the chemical, biological, or biochemical adverse effect(s) of a

pollutant or combination of pollutants on organisms.
Treatment refers to any method, technique, or process designed to alter the
physical, chemical, biological, or radiological character or composition of any waste
or wastewater to reduce or prevent pollution.
Use of Water for Domestic Purposes is the utilization of water for drinking,
washing, bathing, cooking, or other household needs, home gardens and watering
of lawns or domestic animals.
Use of Water for Fisheries is the utilization of water for the propagation or
culture of fish as a commercial enterprise.
Use of Water for Industrial Purposes is the utilization of water in factories,
industrial plants, and mines, including the use of water as an ingredient of a
finished product.
Use of Water for Irrigation is the utilization of water for producing agricultural
crops.
Use of Water for Livestock Raising is the utilization of water for large herds or
flocks of animals raised as a commercial enterprise.
Use of Water for Municipal Purposes is the utilization of water for supplying
water requirements of the community.
Use of Water for Power Generation is the utilization of water for producing
electrical or mechanical power.
Use of Water for Recreational Purposes is the utilization of water for swimming
pools, bath houses, boating, water skiing, golf courses, and other similar facilities
in resorts and other places of recreation.
Waste refers to any material in solid, liquid, semisolid, contained gas, or other
forms resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, or agricultural operations, or
from community and household activities that is devoid of usage and discarded.
Wastewater refers to waste in liquid state containing pollutants. Also called
sewage.
Water Body means both natural and man-made bodies of fresh, brackish, and
saline waters, and includes, but is not limited to, aquifers, groundwater, springs,
creeks, streams, rivers, ponds, lagoons, water reservoirs, lakes, bays, estuarine,
coastal and marine waters. Water bodies do not refer to those constructed,
developed, and used purposely as water treatment facilities and/or water storage
for recycling and re-use, which are integral to process industry or manufacturing.
Water Pollution refers to any alteration of the physical, chemical, biological, or
radiological properties of a water body resulting in the impairment of its purity or
quality.

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Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

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Water Quality refers to the characteristics of water, which define its use in terms
of physical, chemical, biological, bacteriological, or radiological characteristics by
which the acceptability of water is evaluated.
Water Quality Guidelines (WQG) refer to the level for a water constituent or
numerical values of physical, chemical, biological, bacteriological, or radiological
parameters which are used to classify water bodies and their use, which does not
result in significant health risk and which are not intended for direct enforcement
but only for water quality management purposes, such as determining time trends,
evaluating stages of deterioration, or enhancement of the water quality, and as
basis for taking positive action in preventing, controlling, or abating water pollution.
"Water Quality Non-attainment Area" means any segment of a surface water body
where the water quality does not meet applicable water quality criteria, and is not
expected to meet applicable WQG, even after the application of the technologybased effluent limitations required by the CWA.
Section 4.0 Classification of Water Bodies
For the purposes of maintaining water quality according to its intended beneficial
usage, the following classification of water bodies shall be adopted (see Tables 4-1
to 4-3).
Table 4-1 Revised Water Classification and Usage of Inland Surface Waters
Classification
Class AA

Class A
Class B
Class C

Class D
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Intended Beneficial Use

Public Water Supply Class I Intended primarily for waters
having watersheds which are uninhabited and/or otherwise
declared as protected areas and which require only approved
disinfection to meet the latest PNSDW of the Philippines
Public Water Supply Class II Intended as sources of water
supply requiring conventional treatment (coagulation,
sedimentation, filtration and disinfection) to meet the PNSDW
Recreational Water Class I Intended for primary contact
recreation (bathing, swimming, etc.)
1. Fishery Water for the propagation and growth of fish and
other aquatic resources
2. Recreational Water Class II For boating, fishing, or
similar activities
3. For agriculture, irrigation, and livestock watering
1. Industrial Water Supply For Manufacturing processes
after treatment, cooling, etc.)
2. Navigation and other similar uses

Table 4-2 Revised Water Classification and Usage of Marine Waters

Classification
Class SA

Intended Beneficial Use

1. Protected Waters Waters designated as national or local
marine parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and other areas

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

Classification

2.
Class SB

1.
2.
3.

Class SC

1.
2.
3.

Class SD

1.
2.

Intended Beneficial Use

established by law (Presidential Proclamation 1801 and
other existing laws), and/or declared as such by
appropriate government agency, LGUs, etc
Fishery Water Class I Suitable for shellfish harvesting
for direct human consumption
Fishery Water Class II Waters suitable for commercial
propagation of shellfish and intended as spawning areas
for milkfish and similar species
Tourist Zones For ecotourism and recreational activities
Recreational Water Class I Intended for primary contact
recreation (bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc.)
Fishery Water Class III For the propagation and growth
of fish and other aquatic resources and intended for
commercial and sustenance fishing
Recreational Water Class II For boating, fishing, or
similar activities
Marshy and/or mangrove areas declared as fish and
wildlife sanctuaries
Industrial Water Supply For manufacturing processes
after treatment, cooling, etc.)
Navigation and other similar uses

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Section 5.0 Water Quality Guidelines

The rules and regulations established in this section are intended to maintain and
preserve the quality of all water bodies based on their intended beneficial usage
and to prevent and abate pollution and contamination to protect public health,
aquatic resources, crops, and other living organisms.
5.1 Guidelines for Surface Water Quality (Inland and Marine)
All surface waters of the country shall be free from:
1) Domestic, industrial, agricultural, or other man-induced non-thermal
components of discharges, alone or in combination with other substances or
in combination with other components of discharges (whether thermal or
non-thermal), which:

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a) Settle to form putrescent deposits or otherwise create a nuisance

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b) Float as debris, scum, oil, or other matter in such amounts as to form

nuisance

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c) Produce color, odor, taste, turbidity, or other conditions in such

degree as to create a nuisance

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d) Are acutely toxic

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e) Are present in concentrations which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or

teratogenic to human beings or to significant, locally occurring wildlife
or aquatic species

f)

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Pose a serious danger to the public health, safety, or welfare

2) Thermal components of discharges, alone or in combination with other

discharges or components of discharges (whether thermal or non-thermal),
which:
a) Produce conditions so as to create nuisance
b) Increase the temperature of the receiving water body to cause
substantial damage or harm to the aquatic life or vegetation therein,
or interfere with the designated beneficial uses.
The WQG provided for in Tables 5-1 to 5-4 shall be maintained for each water body
classification. For the purpose of this Administrative Order, the parameters
defining the WQG are categorized into two: primary and secondary parameters.
Whereas, primary parameters (Table 5-1) are the required minimum parameters to
be monitored on a monthly basis. Secondary parameters (Tables 5-2 to 5-4) are
other water quality parameters that shall be used in baseline assessment as part of
the Environmental Impact Assessment and other water quality monitoring
purposes. For new WQG parameters, implementation is within 3 years from the
effectivity of this Administrative Order.

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Table 5-1 Water Quality Guidelines for Primary Parameters

Parameter
BOD
Chloride
Color (True)
Dissolved Oxygen(a)
(minimum)
Fecal Coliform
Nitrate as NO3-N
pH
Phosphate
Temperature
Total Suspended Solids

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Unit

Water Body Classification

C
D
SA

AA

mg/L
mg/L
TCU
mg/L

1
250
5
5

3
250
50
5

5
250
50
5

7
350
75
5

15
400
150
2

MPN/100mL
mg/L
Range
mg/L

<2
7
6.5-8.5
<0.003

<2
7
6.5-8.5
0.5

150
7
6.5-8.5
0.5

200
7
6.5-9.0
0.5

oC

26-30

26-30

26-30

mg/L

25

50

65

Notes:
(a) Samples shall be taken between 9:00AM to 4:00PM.

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

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SB

SC

SD

n/a
n/a
5
7

n/a
n/a
50
7

n/a
n/a
75
5

n/a
n/a
150
2

400
15
6.0-9.0
5

<2
10
7.0-8.5
0.1

150
10
7.0-8.5
0.5

200
10
6.5-8.5
0.5

400
15
6.0-9.0
5

25-31

25-32

26-30

26-30

25-31

25-32

80

110

25

50

80

110

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Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

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Parameter
Ammonia as NH3-N
Barium(a)
Boron(a)
Fluoride
Iron(a)
Sulfate(a)
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Table 5-2 Water Quality Guidelines for Secondary Parameters-Inorganics

Water Body Classification
Unit
AA
A
B
C
D
SA
SB
mg/L
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.75
0.04
0.05
mg/L
0.7
0.7
0.7
3
4
0.1
0.7
mg/L
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.75
3
0.5
0.5
mg/L
1
1
1
1
2
1.5
1.5
mg/L
1
1
1
1.5
7.5
1.5
1.5
mg/L
250
250
250
300
500
250
250

SC
0.05
1
5
1.5
1.5
300

SD
0.75
4
20
3
7.5
500

Notes:
(a) If the natural level exceeds the guideline, then the natural level concentration prevails provided that the
maximum increase in concentration is only up to 10 percent from the natural concentration.

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

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Table 5-3 Water Quality Guidelines for Secondary Parameters-Toxic Metals(a,b)

Parameter
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium as Cr+6
Copper as dissolved
Copper
Lead
Manganese
Mercury
Nickel
Zinc

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Unit
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L

AA
0.01
0.003
0.01
0.02

A
0.01
0.003
0.01
0.02

B
0.01
0.003
0.01
0.02

Water Body Classification

C
D
SA
0.02
0.04
0.01
0.005
0.01
0.003
0.01
0.02
0.05
0.02
0.04
0.02

mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L

0.01
0.2
0.001
0.02
2

0.01
0.2
0.001
0.02
2

0.01
0.2
0.001
0.04
2

0.05
0.2
0.002
0.2
2

0.1
2
0.004
1
4

0.01
0.2
0.001
0.02
0.04

SB
0.01
0.003
0.05
0.02

SC
0.02
0.005
0.05
0.02

SD
0.04
0.01
0.1
0.04

0.01
0.2
0.001
0.04
0.05

0.05
0.2
0.002
0.06
0.8

0.1
2
0.004
0.3
1.5

Notes:
(a) Unless otherwise specified, the above parameters are expressed as total metals
(b) If the natural level exceeds the guideline, then the natural level concentration prevails provided that the
maximum increase in concentration is only up to 10 percent from the natural concentration.

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

12

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3

Table 5-4 Secondary Water Quality Guidelines for Secondary Parameters-Organics

Parameter
Animal-Vegetable Fat and
Oil (AVFO)
Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH)
BTEX
Benzene
Toluene
Ethylbenzene
Xylene
Cyanide (Free)
Malathion
(Organophosphate)
PCBs(a)
Petroleum Oil
Phenol & Phenolic
Substances(b)
Surfactants (MBAS)
Trichloroethylene
Total Organochlorine
Pesticides (c)
Aldrin
Chlordane
DDT
Dieldrin
Endrin

Unit

Water Body Classification

C
D
SA
2
5
<0.2

mg/L

AA
<0.2

A
<0.2

B
1

g/L

0.7

0.7

0.7

1.5

mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
g/L

0.01
0.7
0.3
0.5
0.07
1

0.01
0.7
0.3
0.5
0.07
1

0.01
1
0.3
0.5
0.07
1

0.05
4
1.5
1.5
0.1
3

g/L
mg/L
mg/L

<0.1
<0.2
<0.001

<0.1
<0.2
<0.001

0.2
<0.2
<0.001

mg/L
mg/L
g/L

<0.01
0.07
n/a

0.2
0.07
n/a

g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L

0.03
0.2
1
0.03
0.6

0.03
0.2
1
0.03
0.6

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

SB
1

SC
2

SD
5

0.01

0.7

1.5

0.5
5
2
1.8
0.2
6

0.01
1
0.2
0.5
0.02
1

0.01
1
0.2
0.5
0.02
1

0.05
4
1.5
1.5
0.1
3

0.5
5
2
1.8
0.2
6

0.5
<0.2
0.05

1
1
0.5

0.3
<0.2
<0.001

0.3
<0.2
<0.001

0.5
<0.2
0.05

1
1
0.5

0.3
0.07
50

1.5
0.9
50

3
2
50

0.3
0.07
50

0.3
0.07
50

1.5
0.9
50

3
2
50

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

13

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

Parameter
Heptachlor
Lindane
Methoxychlor
Toxaphene
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Unit
g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L

AA
0.03
2
50
4

A
0.03
2
50
4

B
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

Water Body Classification

C
D
SA
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

SB
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

SC
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

SD
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

Notes:
(a) PCBs are a class of chemicals, which include aroclors, 1242, 1254, 1221, 1232, 1248, 1260, and 1016, CAS
numbers 53469219, 11097691, 11104282, 11141165, 12672296, 11096825, and 12674112 respectively.
The WQG applies to this set of PCBs.
(b) Phenolic substances include 2chlorophenol, 2,4dichlorophenol, and 2,4,6trichlorophenol
(c) When monitoring for Class AA and A waters, the individual organochlorine pesticides shall be monitored.
For Class B, C, D, SA, SB, SC, and SD, Total Organochlorine Pesticides (TOPs) shall be monitored, which
refers to the organochlorine pesticides listed in Table 5-4 plus BHC (,, , ), 4,4DDD, 4,4DDE, Endosulfan
(I, II, and sulfate).

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

14

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

5.2 Guidelines for Groundwater Quality

Groundwater in the country generally are potable sources of drinking water without
the necessity of significant treatment. It is the intent of this Administrative Order
to protect the overall high quality of the countrys groundwater to the level
established by these groundwater quality guidelines and to enhance and restore
the quality of degraded groundwaters where feasible and necessary to protect
human health and the environment, or to ensure their suitability as a future
source of drinking water.
In line with this objective, the following are the minimum guidelines for protecting
and preserving groundwaters:

14
15

1) Groundwater shall be maintained at a quality consistent with its intended

beneficial usage

16
17
18

2) Groundwater shall be free from discharge of any pollutant. No discharges of

any pollutant shall be allowed to areas where groundwater is intended as
source of drinking water

19
20
21

3) No facility shall be allowed to operate in a manner that may result in a

discharge of any pollutant to groundwater that may alter its intended
beneficial usage

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

4) No solid waste landfills or facilities that are to be used as treatment, storage,

and/or transfer areas or disposal facilities of hazardous waste shall be
established within the areas where the groundwater is designated as supply
of drinking water and where public water is not available to all surrounding
properties
For the purposes of preserving and protecting groundwater quality for its intended
beneficial usage, the WQG set forth in Table 5-5 shall be maintained.
Table 5-5 Groundwater Quality Guidelines
Intended Beneficial Use
Source of potable drinking water
and other domestic use
Bathing and Other Primary
Contact Recreation
Irrigation, Fish Culture,
Livestock Watering
Industrial Use

Groundwater Quality Guidelines

Adopt Class AA WQG
Adopt Class B WQG
Adopt Class C WQG
Adopt Class D WQG

33
34
35
36
37
38

5.3 Important Considerations

In as much as the WQG are set regardless of the carrying capacity of the water
bodies, and to ensure that carrying capacities are not exceeded, the WQG set forth
in Tables 5-1 to 5-4 are:
Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

15

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2

1) 80th percentile of at least 10 monthly data for primary parameters except for
DO, pH, temperature, and secondary inorganic parameters

2) 20th percentile of at least 10 monthly data for DO

4
5

3) Range between 20th and 80th percentile for pH and temperature of at least 10
monthly data

4) Geometric mean of at least 10 data sets for fecal coliform

7
8

5) Maximum allowable limit for secondary toxic metals and organic parameters

9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

5.4 Anti-degradation and Clean-up Policy

If the concentration of any parameters set forth in this WQG exceeds the numerical
limits for that particular parameter, no addition of that constituent to the naturally
occurring concentration shall be made.
Variance to this policy shall not be made unless it can be affirmatively
demonstrated that a change is justifiable to provide necessary economic or social
development, that the degree of waste treatment necessary to preserve the existing
quality cannot be economically or socially justified, and that the present and
anticipated uses of such water will be preserved and protected.
Section 6.0 General Effluent Standards
Effluent discharges from any point sources shall at all times meet the effluent
standards set forth in Tables 6-1 to 6-3 of this Administrative Order to maintain
the required water quality per water body classification. Until such time that
industry-specific standards are promulgated, the GES laid out in this
Administrative Order shall be enforced.
6.1 Significant Effluent Quality Parameters per Sector
For the purposes of streamlining compliance and enforcement of the GES, the
significant effluent quality parameters per sector to be considered for monitoring
purposes are indicated in Table 6-1.
Table 6-1 Significant Effluent Quality Parameters per Sector
PSIC
Code

Industry Category

Significant Parameters

0210

Hog farming

029

063

Animal Farming including

sericulture, vermi culture, frog
farming, rabbit farming,
crocodile/alligator farming, etc.
Prawn culture and farming

064

Operation of fish farms and nurseries

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,

Chloride, Phosphate, Fecal Coliform,
Total Coliform
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen, Phosphate, Fecal
Colifrom, Total Coliform, AVFO

16

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,

Ammonia-Nitrogen, Sulfate
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

PSIC
Code

065

Industry Category

Significant Parameters

1010

Mollusks and other crustacean farm

operations (except prawn farm
operations)
Gold ore mining and processing

1020

Copper ore mining and processing

1030

Chromite ore mining

1091

Iron ore mining

1092

Manganese ore mining

1093

Nickel ore mining

Nickel processing

1100

Non-metallic mining and quarrying

Coal Mining

1511

Slaughtering and meat packing

(without processing)

1512

Production, processing and

preservation of meat and meat
products
15131 Canning/packing of fish and other
marine products
15132 Drying of fish and other marine
products
15133 Smoking of fish and other marine
products
15134 Manufacture of fish paste (bagoong)
and sauce (patis)
15135 Processing of seaweeds; manufacture
of agar-agar or carageenan
15136 Production of fishmeal/prawn feeds
15137 Manufacture of unprepared animal
feeds from fish, crustaceans, and
mollusks, and other aquatic animals
15139 Processing, preserving, and canning
of fish, crustacean, and other sea
foods, n.e.c.
1514
Processing and preserving of fruits
and vegetables

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

17

Ammonia-Nitrogen, Phosphate,
Sulfate
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen, Sulfate
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Cyanide, Lead, Mercury
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Cyanide, Lead, Mercury,
Copper
Color, pH, TSS, Arsenic Cadmium,
Chromium, Lead, Mercury
Color, pH, TSS, Arsenic, Cadmium,
Lead, Iron
Color, pH, TSS, Arsenic, Cadmium,
Lead, Manganese
Color, pH, TSS, Arsenic, Cadmium,
Lead, Nickel
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Lead, Nickel
pH, Color, TSS
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Mercury, Lead
Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen, Fecal Coliform,
AVFO
Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,
Chloride, Phosphate, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,
AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, AmmoniaNitrogen
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

PSIC
Code
1515
152
1541
1542
1543
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
156
157

Industry Category

Significant Parameters

Manufacture of vegetable and animal

oils and fats (oil refining)
Manufacture of dairy products
Manufacture of starches and starch
products
Production of prepared animal feeds
Manufacture of grain and vegetable
mill products, except rice and corn
Distillery including Ethyl Alcohol
Production from Fermented Materials
Manufacture of wines and spirits
Manufacture of malt liquors such as
beer (brewery), ale, porter and stout
including malt manufacturing
Manufacture of softdrinks and other
beverages (Alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Production of Drinking Water
(bottling)
Manufacture of bakery products

1593
1594

Manufacture of "nata de coco"

1595
1596
1599

Coffee roasting and processing

Manufacture of ice, except dry ice
Manufacture of other food products
such as tea, liquid powder, infants' or
dietetic foods, artificial honey, soups,
vinegar, flavoring extracts and food
coloring, mayonnaise, salad dressing,
table salt
Manufacture of tobacco products

1591
1592

160

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,

AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Nitrate
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS,
Ammonia-Nitrogen
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS
pH, BOD, TSS

Sugar milling and refining including

muscovado
Production of crude oil, copra cake,
meals, and pellets
Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate, and
sugar confectionery
Manufacture of macaroni, noodles,
couscous, and similar farinaceous
products
Manufacture of desiccated coconut

1580

Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS AVFO

18

BOD, TSS, Nitrate, AmmoniaNitrogen, Phosphate, AVFO

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, TSS, Nitrate,
AVFO
Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen, Phosphate, AVFO,
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Chloride, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Chloride, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Chloride, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
AVFO, Surfactants
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Chloride, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
AVFO, Surfactants
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS
Color, Temp, pH
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen, AVFO

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

PSIC
Code

Industry Category

Significant Parameters

171

Spinning, weaving, and finishing of

textiles

1911

Tanning and dressing of leather

2011

Sawmilling and planning of wood

2012

2101

Manufacture of veneer sheets;

manufacture of plywood, laminboard,
particle board, and other panels and
boards
Manufacture of paper and paper
products (including paper and
paperboard manufacturing and
milling)
Manufacture of pulp (abaca)

221

Publishing

222

Printing and service activities related

to printing

2320

Manufacture of refined petroleum

products

NC

Extraction of Crude Petroleum and

Natural Gas

24111

Manufacture of inorganic acids,

alkalis, and chlorine

24112

Manufacture of inorganic salts and

compounds
Manufacture of alcohol, except ethyl
Manufacture of organic acids and
organic compounds

210

24114
24115

24119

Manufacture of other basic

chemicals, except fertilizers and
nitrogen compounds

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

19

Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS, Total

Coliform, Chromium, Copper, Nickel,
Zinc, Phenols, Sulfate, AVFO,
Petroleum Oil
pH, BOD, COD, TSS, AmmoniaNitrogen, Total Coliform, Chromium,
Phenols, Sulfate, Phosphate
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Sulfate, Chromium, Phenols
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Sulfate, Chromium, Phenols
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Phosphate
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Nitrate,
Phenols
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury
Color, pH, BOD, COD, TSS, Cadmium,
Chromium, Copper, Zinc, Petroleum
Oil
Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Phosphate,
Sulfate, Cadmium, Chromium,
Phenols, Petroleum Oil, BTEX, PAH
pH, BOD, TSS, Sulfate, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead,
Mercury, Nickel, Zinc, Phenols,
Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Chloride,
Ammonia-Nitrogen, Sulfate, Barium,
Cadmium, Chromium, Cyanide, Lead,
Mercury, Boron, Iron, Copper, Nickel,
Zinc, Manganese
Color, Temp, pH
Color, Temp, pH
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Chloride, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Sulfate, Fluoride, Barium, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Cyanide, Lead,
Mercury, Iron, Copper, Nickel, Zinc,
Phenols, BTEX
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, Nitrate

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

PSIC
Code
2412
2421

2422

2423

Industry Category

Significant Parameters

Manufacture of plastics in primary

forms & of synthetic rubber including
polymers, and synthetic resins
Manufacture of fertilizers and
nitrogen compounds (straight, mixed,
compound or complex) including
urea, nitric acid, ammonia-nitrogen,
ammonium chlorides and nitrates of
potassium
Phosphate fertilizers included
Pesticides and other agro-chemical
products including insecticides,
rodenticides, fungicides, and
herbicides manufacturing
Manufacture of paints and paint
products, varnishes and similar
coatings, printing inks and mastics

2424

Manufacture of pharmaceuticals
(human or veterinary use), medicinal
/ chemicals and botanical products

2425

Manufacture of soap, detergents,

cleaning and polishing preparations,
perfumes and toilet preparations
Other chemical products not
previously classified including
explosives and fireworks, glue,
gelatin, synthetic fibers,
photochemical products, unrecorded
media, activated carbon and manmade fibers
Manufacture of rubber products
(such as tires and tubes)

2429

251

2520
2610
2620
269

Manufacture of plastic products

Manufacture of glass and glass
products including flat glass,
containers and glass fibers
Manufacture of cement
Manufacture of other non-metallic
mineral products such as nonrefractory and refractory ceramic
articles; clay products; construction
aggregates, asphalt, asbestos, marble

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

20

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,

Phenols, BTEX, PAH
pH, BOD, COD, TSS, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen, Phosphate,
Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead,
Mercury, Fluoride, Phosphate

pH, BOD, COD, TSS, Arsenic,

Chromium, Mercury, Copper, Phenols,
Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead,
Mercury, Copper, Nickel, Zinc,
Phenols
pH, BOD, COD, TSS, Arsenic,
Chromium, Mercury, AVFO, Phenol,
Cadmium, Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Phosphate
BOD, TSS, AVFO, Surfactants,
Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen, Phosphate
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Nitrate,
Phosphate, Sulfate, Copper, Zinc,
Phenol

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,

Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Phosphate, Sulfate, Fluoride, Barium,
Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury,
Nickel, Zinc, Petroleum Oil
BOD, TSS, Phenols
pH, COD, TSS, Arsenic, Lead,
Petroleum Oil, BOD, Fluoride
Temp, pH, TSS
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Copper,
Zinc

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

PSIC
Code

Industry Category

Significant Parameters

271

Manufacture of basic iron & steel

2721

Gold and other precious metal

refining

2722

Non-ferrous smelting and refining,

except precious metals

2723

Non-ferrous rolling, drawing, and

extrusion mills

2724

Manufacture of pipe fittings of nonferrous metal

2729

Manufacture of basic precious and

non-ferrous metal, n.e.c.

2731

Casting/foundry of iron and steel

2732

Non-ferrous metal casting such as

aluminum, copper and zinc alloys

2892

Manufacture of fabricated metal

products and other metal finishing
activities with plating

29
30

Manufacture of fabricated metal

products and other metal finishing
activities
Manufacture of machinery &
equipment including household
appliances
Manufacture of office, accounting &
computing machinery; electrical
machinery and apparatus; computers
and peripherals; electric motors,
generators, transformers; including
primary cells and batteries; medical
and optical instruments

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

21

Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Cadmium,

Chromium, Cyanide, Lead, Mercury,
Zinc, Phenols, Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, AmmoniaNitrogen, Phosphate, Fluoride,
Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium,
Cyanide, Lead, Mercury, Boron, Zinc,
Phenols
Temp, pH, TSS, Arsenic, Cadmium,
Lead, Mercury, Zinc, Copper, Iron,
Nickel
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, AmmoniaNitrogen, Phosphate, Fluoride,
Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium,
Cyanide, Lead, Mercury, Boron, Zinc,
Phenols
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, AmmoniaNitrogen, Phosphate, Fluoride,
Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium,
Cyanide, Lead, Mercury, Boron, Zinc,
Phenols, Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, AmmoniaNitrogen, Phosphate, Fluoride,
Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium,
Cyanide, Lead, Mercury, Boron, Zinc,
Phenols
Temp, pH, TSS, Copper, Zinc,
Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Sulfate,
Fluoride, Arsenic, Cadmium,
Chromium, Lead, Mercury, Iron,
Copper, Zinc
Chromium, Cyanide, Lead, Iron,
Copper, Nickel, Zinc, Petroleum Oil,
Chloride, Sulfates, Fluoride,
Phosphate, TCE
Lead, Iron, Copper, Nickel, Zinc,
Petroleum Oil, Chloride, Sulfates,
Fluoride, Phosphate, TCE
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Iron,
Nickel, Zinc, Manganese

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

PSIC
Code
32

33
34
35

36
3601
3605
3606
3609
3710
3720
391

Industry Category

Significant Parameters

Manufacture of electronics and

semiconductors including radio,
television and communication
equipment and apparatus
Manufacture of medical, precision
and optical instruments, watches and
clocks
Manufacture of motor vehicles,
trailers and semi trailers
Manufacture of other transport
equipment including ship building,
repairing and dismantling; railways
and trams; aircraft
Manufacture and repair of furniture
Manufacture and repair of furniture,
except plastic, to include wood,
rattan, etc
Manufacture of plastic furniture
Manufacture and repair of furniture
and fixtures of metal
Manufacture and repair of other
furniture and fixtures, n.e.c.
Recycling of metal waste and scrap
Recycling of non-metal waste and
scrap
Manufacture of jewelry and related
articles

4010

Generation, collection, and

distribution of electricity

4020

Manufacture of gas; distribution of

gaseous fuels through mains

4030

Steam and hot water supply

including geothermal power plants
Coal

Geothermal

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

22

pH, COD, TSS, Lead, TCE

Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Iron,

Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury,
Iron, Phenols, Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury,
Iron, Phenols, Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury,
Phenol
Color, Temp, pH
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS,
Color, Temp, pH
Color, Temp, pH
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Iron, TCE
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury,
Phenols
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Phosphate, Arsenic, Cadmium,
Chromium, Lead, Mercury
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Chloride, Phosphate, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Nickel,
Zinc, Phenols
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Nitrate,
Chloride, Phosphate, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Copper,
Nickel, Zinc
Temp, pH, COD (if water source is
surface water), TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury,
Chloride
Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Arsenic,

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

PSIC
Code

Industry Category

Significant Parameters
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury,
Boron
Temp, pH
Temp, pH, COD, TSS
Temp, pH, COD, TSS, Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury,
Chloride
Color, Temp, pH, TSS

Hydro
Natural gas
Oil
4100
5020
5040
5050
55

Collection, purification and

distribution of water
Maintenance and repair of motor
vehicles
Sale, maintenance, and repair of
motorcycles and related parts and
accessories
Retail sale of automotive fuel (fuel
stations and oil depots/terminal)
Hotels (including motels, dormitories
and resorts)
Restaurants

61

Shipping operations

6343

Grain warehouses (LARGE)

6344
7011

Cold storage
Real estate buying, selling, renting,
leasing, and operating of selfowned/leased apartment buildings,
non-residential and dwellings Commercial Buildings like malls
Real estate buying, developing,
subdividing, and selling - Residential
condominiums

7012

7013

Cemetery development and sale

(including burial crypt)

73

Research and development

laboratories

80

Public and private education services

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

23

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, Nitrate,

Ammonia-Nitrogen, Phosphate,
Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen, Phosphate,
Petroleum Oil
Petroleum Oil, BTEX, PAH
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, Nitrate,
Ammonia-Nitrogen, Phosphate, Total
Coliform, AVFO, Fluoride, Boron
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Petroleum Oil
Color, Temp, pH, TSS, AmmoniaNitrogen
Color, Temp, pH, TSS
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Phosphate, Total Coliform,
Surfactants
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Phosphate, Total Coliform,
Surfactants
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Phosphate, Total Coliform, AVFO,
Surfactants
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Phosphate, and other
parameters depending on the nature
of their laboratory activities
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Phosphate, AVFO, and other
parameters depending on the nature
of their activities

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

PSIC
Code
851
900

9301
9303

Significant Parameters

Health care facilities (including

hospital, specialty hospitals, medical,
dental and specialty clinics)
Sewage and refuse disposal
sanitation and similar activities

Washing and (dry-) cleaning of

clothing and textile
Funeral and related activities

NC1

Hazardous waste treatment, storage

and disposal facilities

NC2

Solid waste management facilities

NC3

Public markets

NC4

Scrubbing of flue gases from firing

systems (primarily in scrubbing of
flue gases from firing systems. This
shall not apply to wastewater from
other industrial waste-gas-scrubbing
systems, from cooling circuits of
power stations and industrial
processes
Effluent from oil water separators of
auxiliary facilities
Effluent from sewage and septage
treatment facilities
Effluent from cooling ponds, cooling
towers, and similar facilities (Noncontact cooling system)

NC5
NC6
NC7
1
2
3

Industry Category

Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,

Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Phosphate, Total Coliform, AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Phosphate, Fecal Coliform, AVFO,
Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead,
Mercury
Color, Temp, pH, COD, TSS, AVFO,
Surfactants
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, Nitrate,
Total Coliform, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Phosphate, and other
parameters depending on the nature
of their activities
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Chloride, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
Total Coliform, AVFO, Sulfate,
Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium,
Cyanide, Lead, Mercury, Copper,
Nickel, Zinc, Phenols, BTEX, TCE,
TOPs
Color, Temp, pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
Nitrate, Chloride, Ammonia-Nitrogen,
AVFO
Color, Temp, pH, COD, Sulfate,
Fluoride, Cadmium, Chromium,
Mercury, Copper, Nickel

pH, TSS, Petroleum Oil

pH, TSS, BOD, Fecal Coliform, AVFO
pH, Temp, TSS

For new GES parameters, implementation is within 3 years from the effectivity of
this Administrative Order.

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

24

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

6.2 Flowrate-based Effluent Standards

12
13
14
15
16
17

6.3 Effluent Standards Regardless of Volume of Effluent Discharge

18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

In line with the policy of just and equitable enforcement of compliance and
consistent with the goal of maintaining the quality of water bodies based on their
intended beneficial usages; and considering the toxicity and fate and transport of
these parameters, flowrate-based effluent standards are hereby enforced where
different effluent standards are applied based on the volume of effluent discharges.
Depending on the volume of effluent discharges, Tables 6-2 to 6-3 shall be enforced
and complied with at all times.

Considering the toxicity, carcinogencity, fate and transport, and bioaccumulation

factors, effluent standards for the parameters listed in Table 6-4 shall be enforced
and complied with at all times regardless of discharge volume.
6.4 Effluent Standards for BOD for Strong Industrial Wastes
For establishments discharging equal to or greater than 3,000 mg/L of BOD per
day and where the receiving water body is Class C, D, SC, or SD in accordance with
Section 4 of this Administrative Order, the applicable effluent standards in Table 65 shall at all times be enforced and complied with.

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

25

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2

Table 6-2 Effluent Standards(a) for Establishments Discharging >30 m3/day)

Water Body Classification
Unit
AA
A
B
C
D
SA
SB
Ammonia as NH3-N
Mg/L
NDA
0.5
0.5
0.5
7.5
NDA
0.5
Animal-Vegetable Fat and
Mg/L
NDA
2
10
20
50
NDA
10
Oil
BOD
mg/L
NDA
20
30
50
120
NDA
30
COD
Mg/L
NDA
60
60
100
200
NDA
60
Chloride
mg/L
NDA
350
350
450
500
NDA
n/a
Color (True)
TCU
NDA
100
100
150
300
NDA
100
Iron
mg/L
NDA
5
5
7.5
35
NDA
7.5
Manganese
mg/L
NDA
2
2
2
20
NDA
2
Nitrate as NO3-N
mg/L
NDA
14
14
14
30
NDA
20
mg/L
NDA
0.01
0.01
0.5
5
NDA
0.01
Phenol & Phenolic
Substances (b)
Phosphate
mg/L
NDA
1
1
1
10
NDA
1
Sulfate
mg/L
NDA
500
500
600
1,000
NDA
500
Surfactants (MBAS)
mg/L
NDA
2
3
15
30
NDA
3
Total Coliform
MPN/100mL
NDA
3,000
3,000
10,000 15,000
NDA
3,000
TSS
mg/L
NDA
70
85
100
150
NDA
70
Trichloroethylene
Mg/L
NDA
0.7
0.7
9
20
NDA
0.7
Parameter

3
4
5
6
7

Notes:
(a) GES values are maximum allowable concentration
(b) Phenolic substances include 2chlorophenol, 2,4dichlorophenol, and 2,4,6trichlorophenol

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

26

SC
0.5
20

SD
7.5
50

100
200
n/a
150
7.5
2
20
0.5

150
300
n/a
300
35
20
30
5

1
600
15
10,000
100
9

10
1,000
30
15,000
150
20

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2

3
4
5
6
7

Table 6-3 Effluent Standards(a) for Establishments Discharging <30 m3/day)

Water Body Classification
Parameter
Unit
AA
A
B
C
D
SA
SB
Ammonia as NH3-N
mg/L
NDA
0.5
0.5
0.9
13
NDA
0.5
Animal-Vegetable Fat and
mg/L
NDA
2
10
35
85
NDA
10
Oil
BOD
mg/L
NDA
20
30
80
200
NDA
30
COD
mg/L
NDA
60
60
175
350
NDA
60
Chloride
mg/L
NDA
350
350
700
800
NDA
n/a
Color (True)
TCU
NDA
100
100
250
500
NDA
100
Iron
mg/L
NDA
5
5
13
60
NDA
7.5
Manganese
mg/L
NDA
2
2
4
35
NDA
2
Nitrate as NO3-N
mg/L
NDA
14
14
24
50
NDA
20
Phenol & Phenolic
mg/L
NDA
0.01
0.01
0.9
9
NDA
0.01
Substances(b)
Phosphate
mg/L
NDA
1
1
2
15
NDA
1
Sulfate
mg/L
NDA
500
500
1,000
1,500
NDA
500
Surfactants (MBAS)
mg/L
NDA
2
3
25
50
NDA
3
Total Coliform
MPN/100mL
NDA
3,000
3,000
15,000 25,000
NDA
3,000
TSS
mg/L
NDA
70
85
150
250
NDA
70
Trichloroethylene
mg/L
NDA
0.7
0.7
15
35
NDA
0.7)
Notes:
(a) GES values are maximum allowable concentration
(b) Phenolic substances include 2chlorophenol, 2,4dichlorophenol, and 2,4,6trichlorophenol

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

27

SC
0.9
35

SD
13
85

175
350
n/a
250
13
4
35
0.9

250
500
n/a
500
60
35
50
9

2
1,000
25
15,000
150
15

15
1,500
50
25,000
250
35

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3

Table 6-4 Effluent Standards(a) Regardless of Discharge Volume

Parameter
Arsenic
Barium
Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH)
Boron
BTEX
Benzene
Toluene
Ethylbenzene
Xylene
Cadmium
Chromium as Cr+6
Copper as dissolved
Copper
Cyanide (Free)
Fecal Coliform
Fluoride
Lead
Malathion
(Organophosphate)
Mercury
Nickel
Petroleum Oil
PCBs(c)

Unit

Water Body Classification

C
D
SA
0.04
0.08
NDA
6
8
NDA
3
6
NDA
3
12
NDA

mg/L
mg/L
g/L
mg/L

AA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

A
0.02
1.5
1.5
2

B
0.02
1.5
1.5
2

mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L

NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

0.1
3.5
1.5
5
0.006
0.02
0.04

0.1
5
1.5
5
0.006
0.02
0.04

0.5
20
7.5
15
0.01
0.02
0.04

5
25
10
18
0.02
0.04
0.08

mg/L
MPN/100mL
mg/L
mg/L
g/L

NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

0.15
4
2
0.02
1

0.15
300
2
0.02
1

0.2
400
2
0.1
3

mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
g/L

NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

0.002
0.1
1
<0.1

0.002
0.2
1
<0.1

0.004
1
1
<0.1

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

28

SB
0.02
1.5
1.5
2

SC
0.04
2
3
20

SD
0.08
8
6
80

NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

0.1
5
1
5
0.006
0.1
0.04

0.5
20
7.5
15
0.01
0.1
0.04

5
25
10
18
0.02
0.2
0.08

0.4
800
4
0.2
6

NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

0.04
300
3
0.02
1

0.2
400
3
0.1
3

0.4
800
6
0.2
6

0.008
5
5
<0.1

NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

0.002
0.2
1
<0.1

0.004
0.3
1
<0.1

0.008
1.5
5
<0.1

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

Parameter
pH
Temperature(b)
Zinc
Total Organochlorine
Pesticides(d)
Aldrin
Chlordane
Dieldrin
DDT
Endrin
Heptachlor
Lindane
Methoxychlor
Toxaphene
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Unit
Range
change
mg/L
g/L

oC

g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L
g/L

AA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

A
6.0-9.0
3
4
<0.001

Water Body Classification

B
C
D
SA
SB
6.0-9.0 6.0-9.5 5.5-9.5
NDA
6.5-9.0
3
3
3
NDA
3
4
4
8
NDA
0.1
50
50
50
NDA
50

NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001

<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001

<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001

<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001

NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA
NDA

<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001

SC
6.0-9.0
3
1.5
50

SD
5.5-9.5
3
3
50

<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001

<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001

Notes:
(a) GES values are maximum allowable concentration
(b) GES values for temperature refer to the temperature difference of the effluent and abstracted water or the
upstream and downstream water quality
(c) PCBs are a class of chemicals, which include aroclors, 1242, 1254, 1221, 1232, 1248, 1260, and 1016, CAS
numbers 53469219, 11097691, 11104282, 11141165, 12672296, 11096825 and 12674112 respectively.
The WQG applies to this set of PCBs.
(d) When monitoring for Class AA and A waters, the individual organochlorine pesticides shall be monitored.
For Class B, C, D, SA, SB, SC, and SD, Total Organochlorine Pesticides (TOPs) shall be monitored, which
refers to the organochlorine pesticides listed in Table 54 plus BHC (,, , ), 4,4DDD, 4,4DDE, Endusulfan
(I, II, and sulfate).

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

29

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3

Table 6-5 Effluent Standards for Establishments Discharging > 3,000 mg/L BOD
Water Body Classification
Influent BOD (mg/L)

Units

3,000 to 10,000

SC

SD

mg/L

200

300

200

300

% removal

97

95

97

95

mg/L

600

1000

600

1000

% removal

97

95

97

95

mg/L

900

1,500

900

1,500

% removal

97

95

97

95

>10,000 to 30,000

>30,000

4
5
6
7
8

Notes:
Use either numerical limits or percentage removal whichever is lower (or whichever is more stringent).

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

30

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

6.5 Important Considerations

In addition to fulfilling the above-stated requirements, the following provisions shall
be complied with:
1) No effluent shall cause the quality of the receiving water body to fall below
the prescribed WQG in accordance with its classification.

9
10

2) No effluent from any point sources shall be discharged into Class AA and SA
waters.

11
12
13
14
15

3) To avoid deterioration of the quality of the receiving water body, no new

industrial plant with high waste load potential shall discharge into a water
body where the dilution or assimilative capacity of the said water body
during dry weather condition is insufficient to maintain its prescribed WQG
according to its classification.

16
17
18

4) No person shall discharge, wholly or partially, untreated or inadequately

treated industrial effluents directly into water bodies or through the use of
bypass canals and/or pumps and other unauthorized means.

19
20
21

5) No establishment or source of water pollution shall be operated without the

control facilities or wastewater treatment system in good order or in proper
operation.

22
23
24
25

6) No establishment or source of water pollution shall be operated at capacities

beyond the limits of operation or capability of the wastewater treatment
facility to maintain the effluent quality within the standards or pertinent
conditions required by law and/or stipulated in the Discharge Permit.

26
27
28
29
30

7) No person shall build, erect, install, or use any equipment, contrivance, or

any means the use of which will conceal and/or dilute an effluent discharge
and which otherwise constitute a violation of any provisions of these
regulations.

31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44

Section 7.0 Modification of WQG and GES

Any person may request for the modification of the WQG and GES. The request
shall include a preponderance of clear and scientifically valid evidence having a
probative value to demonstrate that such modification is consistent with these
regulations. In addition, Use Attainability Analyses (UAA) shall be conducted for
a request to upgrade a designated use or lower its classification, which require less
stringent guideline values. Request for modification shall be submitted to the
DENR Secretary.
7.1.1

Modification of Designated Uses

If the DENR Secretary determines that the request for modification of designated
use is appropriate, the DENR Secretary shall initiate promulgation of such

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

31

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49

modification in accordance with the Procedural Guidelines for the

Classification/Reclassification of Water Bodies and pertinent provisions of Section
19 and Rule 19.11 of the CWA-IRR.
7.1.2

Addition of Primary Water Quality Parameters

The DENR may at any time set forth more primary water quality parameters and/or
more stringent percentile values than those laid down in this Administrative Order.
7.1.3

Modification of WQG Values

Any person may request to modify a class-specific WQG value. If the DENR
Secretary determines that the request for WQG value modification is appropriate,
the DENR Secretary shall promulgate such modification in accordance with Rule
19.5 of the CWA-IRR. In principle, modification of WQG value of a water segment
shall not result in a modification of the designated use of the water segment. Newly
developed WQG value should still protect the existing and designated uses of the
water segment.
7.1.4

Modification of Significant Effluent Quality Parameters and GES

Values

Any person may request to modify the significant effluent quality parameters per
sector and/or the GES values. If the DENR Secretary determines that the request
is appropriate, the DENR Secretary shall promulgate such modification in
accordance with Rule 19.5 of the CWA-IRR. In principle, modification of the GES
value shall not result to modification of the designated use of the receiving body of
water. Newly developed GES value should still protect the existing and designated
uses of the receiving water body.

Section 8.0 Approved Method of Analysis

For the purposes of this Administrative Order, all water samples, may it come from
surface water, ground water, or domestic, commercial, or industrial effluents shall
be analyzed in accordance with Table 7-1.
Section 9.0 Approval and Periodic Review
These WQG and GES are subject to approval by the DENR Secretary pursuant to
Section 19 of the CWA and shall be reviewed periodically but at least once every five
years, and amended as necessary.
Section 10.0

Penalties

Any person or group of persons found violating or failing to comply with any Order
or Decision of the Department and/or the Pollution Adjudication Board or any
provision of this Administrative Order, shall be liable under Section 28 of the CWA.

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

32

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

Section 11.0

Separability Clause

Any section or provision of these regulations declared to be unconstitutional or

invalid by a competent court, the other sections or provisions hereof shall remain to
be in force.
Section 12.0

Repealing Clause

The DENR Administrative Orders 34 and 35, Series of 1990 are hereby repealed.
Section 13.0

Effectivity

These regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in the official
gazette or any newspaper of general circulation.

APPROVED.

Hon. Jose L. Atienza, Jr.

Secretary
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

33

DENR Administrative Order 2008 - XX

Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
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List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

AVFO

Animal-Vegetable Fat and Oil

BOD

Biochemical Oxygen Demand

BTEX

Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene

CWA

Clean Water Act

COD

Chemical Oxygen Demand

DO

Dissolved Oxygen

GES

General Effluent Standards

LGU

Local Government Unit

MBAS

Methylene Blue Active Substances

MPN

Most Probable Number

NC

New Category

NDA

No Discharge Allowed

n.e.c.

Not Elsewhere Classified

PAH

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon

PCBs

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PNSDW

Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water

PSIC

Philippine Standard Industrial Classification

TCE

Trichloroethylene

TDS

Total Dissolved Solids

TOPs

Total Organochlorine Pesticides

TSS

Total Suspended Solids

Draft Not for quotation or distribution.

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