Manila Water Company: Manila Water Sewage Treatment Plants to clean up Marikina River

Manila Water Sewage Treatment Plants to clean up Marikina River

Posted: Wednesday February 13, 2008

Manila Water’s aggressive thrust on the expansion of wastewater services through the construction of more wastewater treatment infrastructure will be a major factor in helping clean up the Marikina River, a vision shared by Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando and Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando.

The launching of the Olandes Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Sitio Olandes, Marikina City heralds the first of several wastewater treatment plants to be constructed under the Marikina River Basin Wastewater Management Project. The treatment plant will be funded by the World Bank-assisted Manila Third Sewerage Program (MTSP).

Once completed, the facility can process up to 10 million liters of wastewater daily, and will benefit more than 40,000 residents from Marikina and even parts of Quezon City. The Olandes STP will use the combined sewer-drainage system, intercepting wastewater outfalls to the Marikina River and treating them to comply with environmental standards.

Environmental advocates have reported that more than 60% of pollution of rivers and other waterways has been caused by untreated domestic wastewater. In Manila Water’s East Zone, only about 10% are connected to sewer lines, with roughly 80% heavily reliable to septic tanks to store domestic wastewater. Unfortunately, majority of informal settlements built along the banks of rivers are without sanitation facilities and directly discharge wastes into the rivers.

Mayor Fernando expressed elation over the project saying that it is fitting that after the provision of water services to the city, wastewater and sanitation is now being addressed.

“A greater part of our Service Improvement Plan is to expand our wastewater services by putting up more wastewater treatment facilities, a commitment not only to our Regulators but for our East concession residents,” says Manila Water President Antonino Aquino. “These treatment plants will help clean up the Marikina River which eventually drains into Pasig River,” Aquino adds.

Also present during the historic launch is MWSS Administrator Lorenzo Jamora who cited Marikina City as a model city whose environmental programs are worth replicating in other local government units.

The event highlighted the need for concerted efforts and strong partnerships from various stakeholders to protect the environment. Non-government organizations with representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were also present to witness the unveiling of the Olandes STP marker.

Attending the event were prominent personalities from the local government, public and private sectors led by Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando, Vice-Mayor Marion Andres, Congressman Marcelino Teodoro of District 1 and Congressman Del de Guzman of District 2, MMDA Assistant General Manager Cora Cruz, Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) Assistant General Manager Dolly Nepomuceno, MWSS Administrator Lorenzo Jamora and MWSS Deputy Regulator Goldelio Rivera. The Manila Water officials who graced the event were spearheaded by its President Tony Aquino and Group Directors Frank Beaumont, Ding Carpio and Rene Almendras, Wastewater Manager Eva Matibag, Marikina Area Business Manager Tina Estandarte and other Manila Water officials.