May 9, 2008

Philippines to upgrade water quality for grain and livestock farming

The Philippines aims to upgrade guidelines on water quality used on grain irrigation and livestock farming, the Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) said Friday.
 

EMB said that water quality guidelines covering agricultural uses be raised from Class D to Class C.

The upgrade aims to ensure safer agricultural produce as some studies have shown that some crops absorb certain chemicals found in polluted water.

Class C waters are only used for propagating and growing aquatic species like fish.

Class D waters are for agriculture, irrigation and livestock watering as well as for other industrial requirements like cooling.

EMB proposes to revise the guidelines so that fresh and marine waters can be more appropriate to other agricultural activities.

Aside from raising to Class C guidelines for agriculture, irrigation and livestock-raising, the planned revision will downgrade to Class D water quality criteria for manufacturing processes after treatment.

EMB supervising environmental management specialist, Leza Acorda-Cuevas, said the move is needed as polluted water compromises the Philippine agricultural produce.