Belmonte inspects new sewage treatment facility

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. inspected yesterday the newly-built Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at the University of the Philippine Compound along Commonwealth Avenue as the Manila Water bared the construction of similar facilities in other areas of the city.

The P120-million plant, which was recently inaugurated by Environment Secretary Elisea Gozun, was established in an effort to improve the water quality of the Diliman creek.

"These packaged STPs in Quezon City will ensure the protection of our environment, the safety of the city’s waterways and river systems," Belmonte said.

The UP-STP is the first of the 27 new STPs being built by the Manila Water in its concession area in Metro Manila. The 27 STPs will benefit some 200,000 people, Manila Water said.

Antonino Aquino, president of the Manila Water, explained that the UP-STP will ensure that all sewage generated within the UP campus will be treated fully so that waste water discharges to the Diliman creek will comply with the DENR standards.

He said that the UP-STP will result in a 75 percent reduction in pollution in terms of biochemical oxygen demand.

The UP-STP will collect and treat all sewage flows from the buildings and housing communities in the campus, and from the proposed Science and Technology Park along Commonwealth Avenue. It is expected to produce seven million liters of treated waste water each day. The Manila Water said approximately 70,000 residents stand to benefit from the UP-STP.

Aside from the UP-STP, the Manila Water would also establish nine other STPs in Cubao, Philam, Kamias, Pag-asa, Fisheries, Heroes Hill, Sikatuna, and Kalayaan, all in Quezon City.

All 10 STPs in Quezon City are expected to be operational by December 2004.

The remaining 17 STPs that the Manila Water plans to build would be put up in other areas in its concession, including Taguig, Makati City, and Mandaluyong.

The Manila Water concession covers cities of Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong and Makati; a major portion of Quezon City; and parts of Manila, San Juan, Taguig, and Rizal province.