A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1983

The current environmental legislation as promulgated by the National Pollution Control Commission requires all industrial sources of pollution in Metro Manila to install, operate and maintain adequate anti-pollution facilities in their respective premises. Since the standard effluent limitation guidelines came out in 1978, compliance with the above requirements from small electroplating plants has been very negligible. An analysis of the plants' economic 'conditions has, therefore, been carried out to determine the real impact C?f wastewater treatment costs on the profitability of ten selected plants in 'Metro Manila. To determine the economic well-being of the plants, their internal rates of return were determined with and without pollution control measures. A computer program was developed and utilized in comparing the IRRs under assumed high and low market estimates and subsequently in the sensitivity analyses to show the necessary price increases as a consequence of the added costs. The study revealed that even with the least treatment cost available, it is economically infeasible for small electroplating plants to invest in pollution control. This confirms the difficulty facing these plants in com- plying with the NPCC regulations.