Manila Water moves to decentralize sewerage system

The Ayala-controlled Manila Water Co.  is implementing a  decentralized sewerage system in line with efforts to find a more cost-effective way of handling the sewerage problem in the metropolis.

Company officials said they have opted for an alternative system since the creation of a central sewerage system for the whole of Metro Manila would entail an estimated cost of P40 billion.

Manila Water is now in the process of implementing its reformulated master plan for the sewerage program. This will involve expanding Metro Manila’s  East Zone sewerage systems coverage up to 63 percent by 2022 while the remainder would be handled through the provision of desludging services per programmed area in coordination with local governments.

This decentralized sewerage approach to sewerage will be implemented mainly through providing package wastewater treatment systems, such as on-site wastewater treatment plants (WwTPs) for medium and high-rise housing establishments or communities, and by rehabilitating and taking over existing sewerage systems for certain areas.

Some examples of mid-rise housing communities already with WwTPs, include: Makati Pabahay; Mandaluyong Medium Rise Housing; Guadalupe BLISS; Lakeview Manors; Maharlika BLISS; Centennial Village; Fortville, a medium rise building found in C5; and the Bagong Lipunan Condominium & Tenement Housing.

All of these, with the exception of Makati Pabahay, were constructed under the Manila Second Sewerage Project (MSSP) of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. More than 40,000 people now benefit from these facilities which cost over P150 million. The MSSP was implemented from 2000 to 2005 where a total of 27 sewage treatment plants (STP) were constructed.  

In the coming years, Manila Water will implement the Manila Third Sewerage Project (MTSP) master plan which will see a  30-percent increase in sewerage coverage projected to be achieved by  2010.

Officials noted that long-standing problems left unattended tend to grow to crisis proportions. However, finding workable and effective solutions can be found if each problem can be broken down to manageable portions.

They cited the current sewerage outlook of Metro Manila, where instead of creating a massive facility to handle the whole region’s needs, they said it be would be a more prudent and efficient strategy to install smaller facilities targetted at  specific communities.

In 199, Metro Manila’s sewerage was among the worst in Asia, as sewer coverage was only at three percent—a leading cause of the pollution of major river systems. More than half of the total wastewater that flows into those rivers was found to come from households not properly connected to sewerage systems.

While previous sewerage master plans have been formulated with centralized sewer systems in mind, the problems involved in building such as a sewerage system may have led to Metro Manila’s failure to fully develop one.

However, the creation of a central sewerage system would entail an estimated cost of P40 billion, which would eventually be passed on to households. It would also adversely affect roadways, requiring large-scale digging of major streets to improve existing sewerlines through the implementation of combined sewer-drainage systems, further worsening traffic conditions, officials added.