Boracay water utility compliant with DENR standards

MANILA, Philippines — Boracay Tubi System Inc. (BTSI), one of the two water utility providers in Boracay Island, is fully compliant with the government’s effluent standards following the recent rehabilitation of the country’s top tourist destination.

In a statement, BTSI said its joint water sampling conducted with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in its interceptor and water outfall located in Sitio Lugotan in Boracay showed full compliance with the agency’s effluent standards.

This after an incident where yellowish liquid flowed out of its submerged pipe one kilometer away from the island’s shoreline.

“In less than 48 hours, we conducted joint sampling with the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau at both its interceptor and outfall which showed compliance to effluent standards,” BTSI said.

“We take this incident seriously and wish to reassure the public that there is no direct discharging of untreated wastewater into the open sea. All wastewater is being treated on site at the individual sewage treatment plants of establishments it serves,” it said.

The water firm noted that it encourages recycling of treated wastewater for irrigation and flushing purposes and any excess goes to its interceptor as a safeguard.

“The individual STPs and interceptor are constantly monitored in-house, by the DENR-EMB, and by third-party laboratory testing firms for compliance to the latest DENR standards,” BTSI said.

“In fact, we are one of the very few providers in the Philippines and the first provider in Boracay Island to comply with the stringent effluent standards for treated wastewater discharge,” it added.

The company is also investigating possible illegal tapping and intrusion into the pipeline leading to the outfall as it traverses a distance of one kilometer toward the shoreline and an additional one kilometer from the shoreline to the outfall.

BTSI has been operating in Boracay for 20 years. Aside from its treated wastewater recycling program, it also supports the island’s rehabilitation projects, adoption of the biggest wetland in Boracay, planting of 2,500 mangroves in Sitio Lugotan, and sponsoring of the designation of the island as a water quality management area.