BAGUIO CITY – Water flowing from the city to Balili river tributaries would be cleaner with the official launching of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) sludge treatment unit, last Friday morning.
According to City Environment and Parks Management Office – Water, Wastewater Ambience Management Division (WWAMD-CEPMO) head Engr. Moises Lozano, the volute dewatering press technology would hasten sludge drying from the one-and-one-half-months
usual processing time at the drying beds. The new process, Lozano added, would prevent sludge accumulation, and at times overflow, usually during rainy season at the STP.
The new technology would release treated water to the Balili river, with dry component used as fertilizer or plant conditioner, he said.According to Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the city is mandated to maintain water cleanliness from headwater source, its quality being measured, and a fee paid to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) once the water quality goes down. The thirty-six barangays along the Balili river are thus obligated to maintain sewer connections, have septic tanks and refrain from disposing their garbage in the river.
The technology was bought from the city’s Good Governance prize; where 15M assures the machinery being run with complete parts and maintenance within two years. Amcon, the supplier, with Yusuki Suzuki as representative, would check on the machinery as often. Suzuki, further said that his company would focus on solving problems of sewerage, and work on maintaining good relations between Yokohama, Japan and the country.
The mayor added that the sludge dewatering technology is a project, as from the JICA STP in the 1980s, and further, after the 1990 earthquake.
According to CEPMO head Cordelia Lacsamana, the project is implemented after planning and hardwork, for clean waters in Baguio and neighboring towns of Benguet and La Union.
The machinery was prayed over and blessed by Father Joseph Paduyao of the Don Bosco Parish Church with barangay officials, city employees led by Mayor Domogan, and Councilors Benny Bomogao, Peter Fianza and Leandro Yangot, Jr.
Lozano added that another septage treatment facility would stand in the same venue. /Julie G. Fianza#
