Prepared by: Franz Furby C.

Ramos

Water Quality
RA 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act (CWA) of

2004 defines water quality as 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.

Objectives of Ambient Water Quality Monitoring

In the Philippines, most ambient water quality monitoring

activities are undertaken for such purposes as:

1. Classification of a water body. The water quality is monitored

quarterly for a period of one year.

2. Trend Monitoring to check if a water body is meeting its

designated use. The water quality is monitored at regular frequency to check if the water body is meeting the guideline values for its classification. The results are used as basis for decision-making, e.g., whether to institute management interventions to improve water quality, or to reclassify a water body, etc.

 3. Designation of Non-Attainment Areas. A water body or portions of

a water body may be identified as NAA for parameters whose guideline values are not being met. This is based on: (a) ten monthly sampling in a period of one year within the last two years, or (b) quarterly sampling within the last two years (except for parameters requiring more frequent sampling based on the DENR water quality guidelines).

 4.

Monitoring for ECC compliance. If required in the ECC, the quality of a water body is monitored to ensure that a project or undertaking within or near a water body is not affecting the water quality.

5. Monitoring to identify causes and sources of water-related

problems. In cases of occurrence of water-related problems, e.g., disease epidemic, fish kills, red tide, etc., water quality monitoring is undertaken to identify specific problem pollutants and sources, and used as basis for identification of intervention and management strategies.

 6. Monitoring for baseline data and scientific studies. Specific water

quality parameters are analyzed for specified period of time to serve as baseline data or for certain studies.
7. Monitoring for Other Purposes. Monitoring for purposes other

than those mentioned above.

Water Quality for Specific Uses

The beneficial uses and guideline values for the different

classes of waters in the country are specified in the Revised Water Quality Guidelines (revision of DAO 34, series of 1990).
Generally, waters in the higher classification level have

more stringent water quality guideline values than waters in the lower classification level. Thus, effluent to be discharged into waters of higher classification level usually has stricter effluent standards than effluent to be discharged into waters of lower classification level.

Significance Parameters
the physical, chemical and

of

Water

Quality

Water quality parameters are

biological properties of water by which its quality is

measured.

Steps for Water Quality Monitoring Activities

Flow Measurement

Sampling