Firm brings sustainable water solutions to Boracay

MANILA, Philippines - Boracay’s pristine white sand and clear waters make the island among the most visited tourist destinations in the world.

Committed to keeping it that way, Boracay Island Water Co. (BIWC) has embarked on a comprehensive water supply and sewerage master plan that will help protect the island’s world-famous natural treasures.  

Boracay’s coral reefs play an important role on the island. Apart from serving as fishery areas and diving sites, coral reefs protect Boracay’s white sand from coastline erosion.

In the past years, however, Boracay’s coral reefs and consequently, its white sand, have been under serious danger due to increased amounts of sewage discharge in the island’s waters.

Untreated or poorly treated effluent has been found to contain high levels of bacteria and nutrients which eventually kills the coral reefs, disabling production of new white sand and subsequently reducing the beaches’ coastline.

Committed to counter the ill-effects of untreated sewer discharge, Boracay Island Water Co. has invested P78 million in upgrading the island’s sewage treatment plant (STP).

Within only a year of operations, BIWC has reversed the island’s previously non-compliant effluent, and consequently, exhibiting environmental compliance four years ahead of the concession commitment to DENR’s Class SB standards.

The STP facility is designed to safely treat used water or wastewater before it is released to the Bolabog beach through a discharge line 800 meters away from the shoreline.

Discharging environmentally compliant water to the beach makes it safe for aquatic life to live in. It also makes the water safe for swimming and watersports, as the Bolabog beach is a famous site for wind and kite surfing.

In fact, improved water quality conditions have allowed Boracay to once again host the Boracay International Funboard Cup, the biggest windsurfing event in Asia, last January.

Apart from impressively exceeding environmental targets, the upgraded STP has increased its capacity to 250 percent, from its previous 2.6 million liters per day (mld) to the current 6.5 mld.

This capacity increase is aimed to anticipate the growing number of tourists who flock to the country’s premier vacation spot.

Last year alone, the island was visited by an estimated 780,000 tourists. By 2016, tourist inflow is expected to top one million.

“Whether it be off- or peak season, we can maintain the island’s water and wastewater sustainability levels,” BIWC chief operating officer Melvin John Tan said.

On top of its wastewater function, BIWC has significantly improved the island’s water supply in residences, hotels and other businesses.

The company has increased 24-hour water availability to 96 percent of the population compared to the previous 60 percent, before BIWC’s entry.

Water pressure has also increased from an average of 15 pounds per square inch (psi) to 30 psi.

Through its 25-year contract to operate and manage the water and sewerage services system in Boracay Island, BIWC said it’s committed to protect the island’s coral reefs and world-class white sand, keeping it the paradise that it is for generations to come.