As part of its environmental efforts, the Ateneo de Manila University strives to contribute to the conservation of the country’s natural resources and protection of human welfare.
First and foremost, the University complies with the water quality standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) by monitoring its water quality and consumption closely. Additionally, the University also upholds its own initiatives and Sustainability Policies and Guidelines which emphasize the proper treatment and reuse of wastewater before release into the public sewage system.
The DENR-EMB requires establishments in the Philippines to submit Self-Monitoring Reports which summarize their status of environmental compliance These reports include metrics on operational aspects that may directly affect the environment, such as hazardous and solid waste generation and air pollution. This procedure also requires that each establishment have an appointed Pollution Control Officer--an EMB-accredited technical person competent in pollution control and environmental management--to perform duties and responsibilities related to these environmental efforts.
The Ateneo fully complies with the DENR-EMB’s standards and procedures by submitting Self-Monitoring Reports every quarter. Written with full transparency, these reports include information on the University’s hazardous waste generation, recycling and treatment, solid waste generation and characteristics, and environmental management plans and programs.
The University also has internal efforts to monitor its environmental performance, such as the recent Water Safety Trend Report for School Year 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 by the Office for Food Safety and Quality Assurance.
Administrative Order No. 2017-0010, also known as the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW), prescribes the standards and procedures of monitoring drinking water in establishments through scientific tests and preventive maintenance. These are carried out with the goal of protecting the public or consumers' health. Ateneo's recent Water Safety Trend Report looks into the University’s compliance with the PNSDW, and also discusses the results of water potability tests done in different parts of the University.
Looking into whether the University’s water practices and quality is at par with the national standards, the report also lists certain points for improvement. These include the refinement of certain procedures conducted, as well as the enforcement of stricter policies regarding the prompt re-testing of failed water sources.