WATER RELATED

LAWS ISSUED BY
THE DENR

Republic Act. 9275
THE PHILIPPINE CLEAN
WATER ACT OF 2004
WHAT IS THE PHILIPPINES
CLEAN WATER ACT?

 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).
 It provides for a comprehensive and integrated
strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a
multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all
the stakeholders.
 Why the need for the
Clean Water
 Act?
 As early as 1996, monitoring of the country’s rivers
showed that only 51% of the classified rivers still met
the standards for their most beneficial use.
 Most studies point to the fact that domestic
wastewater is the principal cause of organic pollution
(at 48%) of our water bodies. Yet, only 3% of
investments in water supply and sanitation were
going to sanitation and sewage treatment.
 Thirty-one percent (31%) of all illnesses in the
country are attributed to polluted waters.
 PROHIBITED ACTS
UNDER R.A. 9275

 Discharging or depositing any water pollutant to the water
body, or such which will impede natural flow in the water body
 Discharging, injecting or allowing to enter into the soil,
anything that would pollute groundwater
 Operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants
without the valid required permits
 Disposal of potentially infectious medical waste into sea by
vessels
 Unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of sewage
sludge or solid waste.
 
 Transport, dumping or discharge of prohibited chemicals,
substances or pollutants listed under Toxic Chemicals,
Hazardous and Nuclear wastes Control Act (Republic.Act
No. 6969)
 Discharging regulated water pollutants without the valid
required discharge permit pursuant to this Act
 Noncompliance of the LGU with the Water Quality
Framework and Management Area Action Plan
 Refusal to allow entry, inspection and monitoring as well
as access to reports and records by the DENR in
accordance with this Act
 
 Refusal or failure to submit reports and/or designate pollution
control officers whenever required by the DENR in accordance
with this Act
 Directly using booster pumps in the distribution system or
tampering with the water supply in such a way to alter or impair
the water quality
 Operate facilities that discharge or allow to seep, willfully or
through grave negligence, prohibited chemicals, substances, or
pollutantslisted under R.A. No. 6969, into water bodies.
 Undertake activities or development and expansion of projects,
or operating wastewater treatment/sewerage facilities in
violation of P.D.1586 and its IRR.
 FINES AND PENALTIES
IMPOSED ON POLLUTERS

 Anyone who commits prohibited acts such as discharging untreated
wastewater into any water body will be fined for every day of violation,
the amount of not less than Php 10,000 but not more than Php
200,000.
 Failure to undertake clean-up operations wilfully shall be punished by
imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than four years.
This also includes a fine of not less than Php 50,000 and not more than
Php 100,000 per day of violation. Failure or refusal to clean up which
results in serious injury or loss of life or lead to irreversible water
contamination of surface, ground, coastal and marine water shall be
punished with imprisonment of not less than 6 years and 1 day and not
more than 12 years and a fine of Php 500,000/day for each day the
contamination or omission continues.
 In cases of gross violation, a fine of not less than Php 500,000 but not
more than Php 3,000,000 will be imposed for each day of violation.
Criminal charges may also be filed.