Naga’s septage facility not hazardous - MNWD
By Paolo Gabriel D. Jamer
The general manager (GM) of Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) has assured residents that its septage treatment facility located in Sitio Caromatig, Barangay Carolina, will not bring adverse effects to the environment and water consumers even if the facility is adjacent to three pumping stations, which supply some of the potable water needs of the city.
Engr. Virgilio B. Luansing I, MNWD GM, said this is so because the septage treatment facility is highly mechanized and with automated sensors to easily monitor in case there will be leaks, which he said is impossible to happen.
Luansing said the city’s septage facility was built by an experienced contractor who already constructed similar facilities all over the country. He said there was a feasibility study before the facility was built.
Bicol Mail learned that there are three pumping stations with a distance of 50 to 100 meters away from the septage facility. Luansing said that one of the three pumping stations is intended to check if the facility is really safe that there is nothing to worry about. Moreover, the trucks that will be used in the operations are sealed vacuum type to ensure that toxic wastes that could possibly harm the environment and the people are secured.
MNWD Septage Treatment Facility Located at Sitio Caromatig, Brgy. Carolina, Naga City, the plant started construction on Aug. 7, 2019 and is expected to become operational in this month.
In an interview with Engr. Emeterio “Boy” L. Aman, chairman of MNWD Board of Directors, he said that as an environmental planner himself, the location of the septage treatment facility is not an appropriate place for a septage plant. He, however, added that the construction of the septage treatment facility is in accordance with the Clean Water Act.
Lawyer Areiz Macaraig, an environmentalist, said that “Sana maipublic yung study para naman mainvolve ang tao sa implementation especially nga na malapit sa mga water sources. Mayo po participation ang tao. Ang participation is to check. Kung di alam ang suggested precautions, wala man idea ang tao just to check. Tao lang ang makakapag check lalo na mga environmentalists. Mga concerned groups. Sana magkaron din sila ng regular reporting ng compliance nila kasi yung area secluded, wala man masyado nakakapansin kung may negative impact na sa environment. Especially dapat close monitoring and regular checking ng water parameters.”
He also added that the septage facility is a lucrative one since septage fee is being collected on a monthly basis from water consumers. Since the septage plant is operational, the collection of septage fees must be monitored as well as its compliance to existing environmental laws and regulations.
Meanwhile, according to Ronnel B. Astor, PENRO Camarines Sur chief, the facility was given an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and it is premature to say if there are hazardous effects since the facility is not yet operational.
The facility is set to operate this January 2022, Aman said.