Wastewater seminar

Clean water is a scare commodity, a vital and finite resource, which should be conserved, treated and reused, according to the Water Environment Association of the Philippines Inc. (WEAP).

Thus, WEAP said, ensuring an efficient, economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible wastewater treatment alternatives will enable people to sustain water resources and make clean and safe water available for both humans and wildlife.

Committed to preserve clean and safe water for households and the environment, the WEAP, a member-association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), will conduct a one-day technical seminar on "Wastewater Treatment Technologies and the Salient Features of the Clean Water Act on" on Aug. 27 at the Manila Pavilion Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn), United Nations Avenue, Ermita, Manila.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is requiring developers and establishments to set up sewage treatment facilities as a condition for granting environmental compliance certificates and permits to operate.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun rallied the participants at the recent Local Government Units-Private Sector Housing Conference to provide sewage treatment facilities in housing projects for their constituents and communities.

Dr. Pag-asa Gaspillo, WEAP president, said the seminar will provide the participants with technical information on the current practices of wastewater treatment operations, trouble-shooting, wastewater processes (ion-exchange and water/wastewater clarification), and safety policies and procedures in the management and operation of wastewater facilities.

Invited speakers from the DENR will talk on the salient features of the Clean Water Act (Republic Act 9275) and sampling collection techniques and methods and laboratory analysis of important wastewater parameters.