Boracay Water ready for October opening

MANILA, Philippines — The Boracay unit of Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc. is intensifying its operations in the island to ensure readiness in time for the reopening by October.

Boracay Island Water Co. Inc. recently acquired additional desludging vehicles that can haul up to nine cubic meters of wastewater from households and establishments that are yet to connect to the sewer system.

With the additional facilities, the company can now collect up to 20 cubic meters of used water per day from residential and commercial customers located in areas without access to the sewer network.

“This effort to expand our desludging capacity is in line with Boracay Water’s aim to accelerate our used water management programs in support of the rehabilitation of the island,” Boracay Water general manager and chief operating officer Joseph Michael Santos said.

After gathering accumulated used water from the septic tanks of residential and commercial establishments, the used water is then delivered to the company’s two sewage treatment plants that may treat up to 11,500 cubic meters daily.

The treatment plants ensure that used water are treated and processed in strict compliance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-mandated Class SB effluent water quality or water that is fit for recreational activities and would not pollute the island’s beach waters.

Santos said desludging is an interim solution to the used water requirements of the island as it continues to fast track its masterplan to expand Boracay Water’s sewage network capacity to 37 kilometers by 2021 and build the third sewage treatment plant with a capacity to treat five million liters of used water per day.

Prior to the closure, Boracay Water has been expanding its sewer system and network, consistent with the infrastructure masterplan approved by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Regulatory Office.

Since last year until the first quarter of 2018, about 12,860 cubic meters of used water have been collected through Boracay Water’s desludging services both from residential and commercial establishments.

A total of 77 establishments, meanwhile, have availed of the desludging services since the closure was implemented.

During the rehabilitation period, Boracay Water has been able to complete the diversion flow from its treatment plants to allow more establishments to connect to the sewer system.

It has also started the upgrade and expansion of the sewer network along Balabag Main Road which will accommodate higher flows coming from the beach front area.

Boracay Water is now accommodating more non-customers to connect to the sewer network and is encouraging them to avail and support proper used water services.

Boracay Water has so far plugged 36 pipes illegally connected to the drainage system and has built a temporary interceptor and diversion system that redirects drainage water to its STPs for proper treatment.

The DENR is expected to reopen the country’s tourist destination by October 26 amid on track schedule of the clean-up operations.