Wastewater treatment a must in QC markets

The Quezon City council has enacted an ordinance that would require marketplaces, public and private, to install and operate sewage treatment plants as a prerequisite to the issuance or renewal of their permits to operate.

During Monday’s regular session, the city council passed on third and final reading the “Sewage Treatment Plant of Quezon City Markets Ordinance” which expounds on a provision of the 2009 Green Building Ordinance of 2009 pertaining to sewage treatment plants in the city’s markets.

The measure, introduced by 3rd District Councilor Gian Carlo Sotto, warned of the dangers posed by market wastes and pollution to the residents’ health.

Wet market wastes like fish scales, innards, bones, blood, meat scraps, grime and filthy water may find their way into creeks and rivers if discharged untreated, it said.

“There is an imminent danger to the health of our people and there is a need to mandate the installation of sewage treatment plant for markets whether private or public, to substantially reduce disease-causing microorganisms in the water discharged back into the environment,” the ordinance stressed.

Quezon City currently has 11 public markets, while the local privately owned markets include Cloverleaf and MC Markets in Balintawak, Barangay (village) Balingasa; Muñoz Market in Barangay Veterans Village; Visayas Wet and Dry Market and the Tandang Sora Bayan Palengke in Barangay Tandang Sora; Litex Wet and Dry Market in Barangay Commonwealth; New Arayat Market in Barangay San Martin de Porres; and ES & EM Market in Barangay Kaligayahan.

Having sewage treatment plants in these establishments would ensure that wastewater is filtered and made less harmful to people and the environment, in the manner required under the Clean Water Act of 2004, according to the ordinance.

Their operators are required to secure a permit from the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department, Market Development and Administration Department, and the city building official to set up their respective sewage treatment plants.

Failure to comply would result in the denial of a business permit or the rejection of renewal applications.