Wastewater treatment, sewerage services in Metro manila upgraded

Amid the sewage woes plaguing the country’s top resorts, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has stepped up its comprehensive action plan to improve the sewerage systems in Mega Manila in line with the Philippine Clean Water Act.

MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco said that MWSS and its concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad, were working nonstop to improve the wastewater treatment and sewerage services in their respective areas of coverage.

The two concessionaires have already submitted their business plans for 2018-2022 that included capital expenditures for sewerage and wastewater treatment facilities.

In Metro Manila, the MWSS was among the 15 agencies identified in the Clean Water Act as responsible for the provision of sewerage and sanitation facilities, and for the efficient and safe collection, treatment and disposal of sewage.

Writ of mandamus

A 2008 writ of mandamus issued by the Supreme Court names the water agency as among those tasked to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its water to a level fit for swimming, skin diving and other forms of contact recreation.

Maynilad president and CEO Ramon Fernandez said that Maynilad operated 20 wastewater treatment plants.

Over the next five years, Maynilad will build four new sewage treatment plants.

He added that Maynilad had allotted about 30 percent of this year’s capital investment budget for wastewater management programs.

Manila Water is also providing adequate sewer and sanitation services and ensuring that treated used water discharged to river systems is of such quality that supports marine life.

Three River Master Plan

Manila Water has also put in place the Three River Master Plan which aims to achieve 100-percent sewer coverage by year 2037 through a combination of sewer-drainage and separate sewer systems, covering all catchments that discharge to the three river systems within the east concession—Marikina, Pasig and San Juan Rivers.

Manila Water has a water treatment capacity of 310 milliliters per day.

“Given all of our programs, we make sure that wastewater is well taken care of within the communities,” said Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand de la Cruz.