MWSS chief cites water group, SMC efforts on water

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco has stressed the need to conserve water, develop supply sources and improve wastewater treatment to prevent the water situation from turning into a full-blown crisis.

Addressing delegates to the Water Philippines 2017, Velasco also lauded the respective advocacies of the Philippine Water Works Association and San Miguel Corp. for water supply development and conservation while promoting environmental protection.

The three-day conference, which coincided with the World Water Day celebration, focused on wastewater and ways to reduce and reuse.

Velasco noted that over 80 percent of all wastewater from homes, cities, industry and agriculture flowed back to nature, polluting the environment and losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials.

Citing the World Health Organization’s call to improve the collection and treatment of wastewater, Velasco stressed that these issues were being addressed with the help of MWSS partners, Manila Water and Maynilad, which are beefing up their waste water treatment plants.

He also cited San Miguel Corp., the Philippines’ largest conglomerate, for leading the way on its own water sustainability challenge to reduce usage and educate employees, business partners and communities about water stewardship.