DENR-EMB, LBW-WAQMA to establish waste water treatment facility in Buhi town

WAQMA TEAM

BUHI, Camarines Sur --- A state-of-the-art waste water treatment facility will soon be part of the continuing effort of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) to ensure that Buhi Lake’s water quality is environmentally acceptable and clear from toxicants and other form of pollutants.

This, if the feasibility study of constructing a sewage/septage treatment facility in Lake Buhi Watershed-Water Quality Management Area (LBW-WQMA) will materialize and will eventually find its way at the very heart of the municipality of Buhi where the world’s smallest fish can be found.

In consonance with this objective, members of the DENR-EMB and LBW-MQMA Board took the opportunity to visit the Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWC)-Marikina North Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) located at the Balubad Resettlement Area, Brgy. Nangka in Marikina to familiarize themselves with the facility’s treatment process and check the relevance of its application in Lake Buhi.

MWC Inc.-STP Pollution Control Officer Sharon Parker Cerbito in her brief presentation on how the STP work, explained how industrial wastes are screened in various phases, how grease, pathogens, sludge and solid wastes are extracted until the waste water and sewage or effluent can be re-used. The facility treats 100,000 m3 of industrial and waste water per day.

“Used Water Operations is part of the Manila value chain that delivers service obligation to the entire East Zone concession. As part of our advocacy for cleaner waters, we are continuously implementing intensive IEC and census, synergy with LGUs and NGAs and rehabilitation of sewer network system, among others,” Cerbito explained.

Manila Water Company, Inc.’s other programs and mitigation plans include implementation of innovative solutions and improvisation, regular preventive maintenance and network hotspots and the development of pre-treatment standards for non-domestic discharge.

EMB V Regional Director Engr. Maria Socorro A. Abu, MPA said that the site visit and facility tour is part of the terms of reference in relation to the preparation of the feasibility study for the establishment of waste -water treatment facility in Lake Buhi.

“This is a project of DENR EMB where all those with water quality management were given financial assistance for the preparation of feasibility study. So this is a gift for the municipality of Buhi and they are very lucky that they were given this opportunity. Since this is just a feasibility study the challenge is how to make it a reality,” Abu added.