Water quality monitoring systems

Monitoring and surveillance of environmental quality is an important DENR activity. The DENR determine the trends of the concentration levels of water pollutants in selected rivers of the country. The information gathered serves as an indicator of the present condition compared with past years.

In order to determine compliance by industrial firms, a series of industrial plant surveys, investigations and follow-up inspections are conducted by personnel of the DENR sixteen (16) regional offices. Plant surveys determine the existence of pollution or the efficiency of the control facilities. On the other hand, investigations are done to verify the veracity of complaints, while follow-up inspection was done to determine the progress of construction of anti-pollution devices/facilities or compliance with previous commitment that have been promised by the firm or any requirements embodied in orders issued by the Department through the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB).

The monitoring scheme for effluent and stream water quality is based on the guidelines stated in 1994 DENR-EMB Water Quality Monitoring manual. The salient features of the manual are as follows:

Part 1 of the manual covers the following topics:

• Chapter 1 – Sampling Methodologies
• Chapter 2 – Flow Measurement Techniques
• Chapter 3 – Water Quality Parameters
• Chapter 4 – Methods of Analyses
• Chapter 5 – Review and evaluation of Results
• Chapter 6 – Reporting

Part 2 of the manual discusses the following:

• Chapter 7 – Siting of Monitoring Stations
• Chapter 8 – Stream Flow Measurement
• Chapter 9 – Sampling Methodologies and Frequencies
• Chapter 10 – water Quality Parameters and Methods of Analyses
• Chapter 11 – Data Analysis and Reporting