Oro can expect wastewater treatment plant in 2022

A WASTEWATER treatment plant that will remove contaminants from wastewater or sewage is expected to be built in 2022 in Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, according to City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) chief Armen Cuenca.

This, after Clenro, together with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Northern Mindanao, and the Philippine Coast Guard, started removing water hyacinths or water lilies, which began to clog the Cagayan de Oro River.

Cuenca said water hyacinths grow in dirty bodies of water, which explains why they are usually found in drainage.

"Naay facilities sa mga dagko nga establishments like hotels, mga restaurants, malls, naa silay waste water treatment. Ang problema ang atong ordinary nga mga tao wala," Cuenca said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already conducted a feasibility study on the P1.7-billion wastewater treatment project, the Clenro chief said.

"Gimandoan sa Clean Water Act nga kinahanglan ang usa ka highly urbanized city duna gyud syay kaugalingon nga waste water treatment facilities," Cuenca said.

"Humana ang feasibility study. Ga tap na lang ang City kun asa ang funding kay mahal kaayo, P1.7 billion ang worth sa project. Mao na naay source of funds nga 50 percent nga among gai-tap. Hopefully kun makuha nato na, we can start the construction," he added.

Cuenca said all drainage or canals in Cagayan de Oro City will be connected to the wastewater treatment plant to have the dirty water treated and the water discharged to the river will be clean.

"Identified na ang area asa dapit kay human naman ang feasibility study nga gi-conduct sa DPWH, ang pag implement an lang daun. Ang hopefully by year 2022 ma start na," he said.