Wastewater Treatment in the Philippines

All over the world, over 5 million people die each year because of water contamination. In poor countries, water contamination disease comprises 80% of their total disease burden. It is estimated that water pollution and poor sanitation accounted for 17 percent of reported diseases and 1.5 percent of the reported deaths in the Philippines. This is an alarming rate if people of today don’t start caring about wastewater treatment. 

Laguna Lake and Pasig River

According to The Free Dictionary wastewater treatment is defined as unit processes used to separate, modify, remove, and destroy objectionable, hazardous, and pathogenic substances carried by wastewater in solution or suspension in order to render the water fit and safe for intended uses. Treatment removes unwanted constituents without affecting or altering the water molecules themselves, so that wastewater containing contaminants can be converted to safe drinking water. 

Here in the Philippines, wastewater treatment facilities are now being given much importance in providing millions of families, potable water. There are many treatment facilities scattered all over the country and one of which is year-old site located in Muntinlupa. The new treatment plant uses water from Laguna Lake as an alternative source to the Angat Dam. It is the largest lake in the Philippines and the third-largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. The facility is expected to produce 100 million litres of water per day (MLD). The plant will be capable of producing 50MLD from July and 50MLD more by September 2010. The plant supplies potable water to 4,585 households. At full capacity it will serve around 105,000 households in the south of Manila. With new treatment facilities being built, the chances of getting water-borne diseases shall decrease and provide families with sustainable health and living.

Wastewater Treatment technology in Muntinlupa

BY: RON JOSEF M. CRUZ

Reference: http://www.water-technology.net/projects/muntinlupa-plant/