MCWD lauded for safe, clean

CEBU, Philippines - septage programEnvironment and health officials of Central Visayas lauded the Metropolitan Cebu Water District’s (MCWD) Septage Management Program during the Dialogue on Septage Management held in Mandaue City recently.

Engineer William Cuñado, director of the   Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7, said that Central Visayas needs more septage treatment plants (STPs) and urged the participants in the dialogue to visit MCWD’s STP in Cordova, Cebu.

“I commend MCWD for this septage treatment plant. There is no smell. (The plant) is complying with water quality standards and (the operators) are securing the discharge permit from EMB,” Cuñado told over 50 participants composed of mayors, government employees, private septic tank desludging companies, nongovernment organizations and private organizations.

Aside from providing safe, potable, reliable and affordable water, MCWD’s mandate includes providing sewerage or septage services to its consumers.

Septage management includes the desludging of septic tanks and the proper treatment and disposal of the by-products of wastewater and bio-solids so these can be disposed of without causing any harm to the environment.

MCWD’s STP in Cordova, which started operating in August 2016, has already served 15,000 households, treated 9,000 cubic meters of sludge and generated 4,000 cu. m. of wastewater that can be used to water plants or clean the water trucks.

Aside from Cuñado, Department of Health-7 Sanitary Engineer Henry Saludar, said only MCWD has the facility to properly treat and dispose of septic tank waste.

All the private haulers in Central Visayas have yet to comply with the Sanitation Code of the Philippines which regulates the collection, handling, transport and disposal of domestic sludge and septage.

MCWD’s state-of-the-art facility was built by its private partner Envirokonsult Equipment and Services Inc., which is now operating the plant.

It is capable of treating 150 cu. m. of sludge per day and is initially serving MCWD’s consumers in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City due to the high nitrate content of the private water wells in Mactan Island.

Engineer Emmanuel Espina of MCWD said that with a P1-billion grant from the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA), the water district is committed to put up three more STPs in its service area by 2020.

MCWD, in a statement, said that implementing the septage management program to address the pollution of water sources, lessen risks caused by water-borne diseases and involve water users in a comprehensive sustainability program for Metro Cebu.

MCWD added that its consumers are now enjoying desludging services every five years and pay for the services based on the volume of water they consume.

The fee is spread out in equal monthly installments for five years, making it very affordable. — (FREEMAN)