(Article Posted Online: Aug 29th, 2012)
Manila, Philippines – Disposal of untreated or inadequately treated domestic wastewater remains to be a major issue in Metro Manila.
Since Pasig River’s “biological death“ in 1990, authorities have been pulling out all the stops to bring its classification of water usage back to at least Class C.
Under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) classification used for freshwater sources, such as rivers, lakes and reserves, Class AA pertains to disinfected water supply, which is ideal for human consumption.
Class A refers to public water supply that undergoes complete treatment from filtration to disinfection.
Class B is used for primary contact recreation, like swimming, bathing and washing of clothes or dishes.
Class C can still cater to marine life, but can also be used for industrial and other recreational activities, like boating and fishing.
Class D, on the other hand, refers to the water used in agricultural irrigation and livestock.
Any type of water beyond this classification is already too contaminated to breed life and to be utilized.
Contaminated water is unfit for drinking and recreational use because of the presence of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. It threatens biodiversity and the overall quality of life.
Environmental studies show that the major sources of water pollution in Pasig River are domestic waste, which make up about 33 percent; livestock wastes, 29 percent; industrial sources, 27 percent; and other forms, 11 percent.
Trash and debris also clog up sewage systems, which lead to the overflowing of the river and the inundation of nearby roads and residences in low-lying parts of Metro Manila.
Yet, many still ignore the consequences of the increasing pollution in Pasig River.
Since the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) in 1997, Maynilad and Manila Water have already been providing sewerage and sanitation services to western and eastern zones of the National Capital Region.
Both water utility companies have also started operating wastewater treatment facilities to ensure the efficient collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater from residential areas under their jurisdictions.
Through their “desludging“ program, Maynilad and Manila Water provide septic tank cleaning services in unsewered areas designed to prevent the clogging of residential plumbing systems while they minimize the discharge of pollutants to the environment.
In an interview, Manila Water Communications Affairs head Jeric Sevilla, Jr. presented the “3-River Master Plan“ that aims to improve the water quality in Metro Manila’s three major rivers Marikina River, San Juan River, and Pasig River with the construction of 38 treatment facilities until 2022.
“The master plan will treat over one billion liters of wastewater daily,“ Sevilla said.
Improving the sewerage and sanitation system within the catchment area of Pasig River is one component of the master plan. The catchment area includes parts of the cities of Quezon, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Manila, and Makati; and the province of Rizal.
In the last two years, Manila Water has constructed three sewerage systems Pineda, Olandes, and Poblacion sewage treatment plants along Pasig River to immediately intercept the untreated waste and prevent it from going into the river.
Both water companies also claimed that through their projects, wastewater will be treated prior to discharge into the Pasig River.
Among the ecological benefits of their projects is the rehabilitation of the river system, thereby improving its biodiversity and preventing the river system from further water quality degradation. It will also help improve health and sanitation in the community.
Currently, both Maynilad and Manila Water work hand-in-hand with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) to bring back to life the 27-kilometer-long Pasig River.
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