THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District will soon start its septage management program after the signing of a contract with Envirokonsult Equipment Services Inc. recently.
Under the contract, Envirokonsult will put up the facility on MCWD’s lot in Barangay San Miguel in Cordova town within 12 months from the date of the contract signing at no cost on the part of the water district.
Then, it will operate the facility in the next five years.
Environkonsult will also provide trucks and equipment that passed the standards of the Department of Health as well as trained personnel who will do the desludging of septic tanks.
Envirokonsult, a Manila-based company, has a track record of providing desludging services to major water utilities.
In compliance with the provision of the Clean Water Act of 2004, it is the mandate of the local government units to put up a septage management facility.
However, MCWD is offering to help and is willing to provide the septage management program.
It is also willing to lease or procure a lot to lessen the burden of the LGUs.
MCWD will conduct a public hearing in Barangay San Miguel this month to present the program.
Cost for the desludging and treatment of wastes will be paid by MCWD consumers on instalment basis. They will pay P2.20 for every cubic meter of water consumed and this will be incorporated in the water bill.
Full payment
An average family can pay up to P50 a month or a total of P3,000 for five years.
Those who are not MCWD consumers will have to make a one-time full payment of the amount.
MCWD will pay the contractor P800 per cubic meter of collected and treated waste.
After five years, MCWD has the option to buy out the facility and the equipment, and operate it on its own or renew the contract of Environkonsult and allow it to operate the facility for a certain period.
MCWD is planning to put up septage treatment facilities in three areas in Metro Cebu, including the one in Cordova, which will serve the people of the town as well as in Lapu-Lapu City.
There are private desludgers operating in Metro Cebu but there is no facility that treats septage, which raised the question on the proper disposal of these wastes.