Mandaue okays sewage measure

CEBU, Philippines – The Mandaue City Council has approved on second and final reading a proposed ordinance establishing a proper sewage treatment and septage management system in the city.

The said ordinance, authored by Councilor Ernie Manatad, chairman of Council Committee on Environmental Protection, is aimed at preventing and controlling water pollution and "promote health and ensure a balanced ecology" in the whole of Mandaue.

Under this new law, all residential structures, commercial and industrial establishments, government structures and institutional facilities like schools, hospitals and churches are required to put up their own septage systems.

The bigger buildings must establish their own sewage treatment facility, according to the ordinance.

For smaller buildings like residential houses and churches, they must have "hygienic septic tanks," while the commercial and industrial buildings and bigger government and institutional facilities, with at least 212 occupants, must have an operational waste water treatment system to prevent waste water from getting to the waterways before getting the proper treatment.

For sewered areas, especially the industrial buildings, this measure provides that "no wastewater…shall be allowed to be discharged on sewers or sewer pipelines" before this is treated in a pre-treatment facility.

Included in this ordinance are also restaurants and food businesses, which are mandated to trap their waste grease in the kitchen to block the oil from getting into the drainage system. This as grease can harm the water and the living organisms in it.

The existing buildings within the city is given one year to comply with these new requirements while  businesses will have to secure discharge permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned agencies before being given a mayor's permit.

For new buildings, they must establish these systems first to be granted occupancy or any other permits by the City Hall. (FREEMAN)