Wastewater treatment technology reaches Siargao
A wastewaster treatment technology developed through funding by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has helped a beach resort in surfers’ mecca Siargao island to become an eco-friendly tourist destination.
The successful full installation of the Eco-Friendly Septic (Eco-Sep) system features the use of Vigormin Organo Mineral developed by Adamson University professor Merlinda Palencia at the Travellers Pension House & Beach Resort in General Luna, Siargao. It made the destination confident of undergoing environmental inspection.
The Eco-Sep’s Vigormin Organo Mineral (ViOM) is an odorless, white powder composed of various organominerals with the capability to neutralize the pungent odor and murky color of wastewater. Its application significantly improves water quality based on the effluents standard set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Editha Gonzales, former general manager of the establishment, said that with the highly effective treatment of the resort’s wastewater, plants around the resort now benefit from “recycled” water.
“The treated wastewater is clear and does not have any odor. Thanks to the DOST for making us a recipient of the Eco-Sep (technology),” Gonzales said.
Aside from the Travellers Pension House, the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology (PCIEERD) had provided Eco-Sep to the General Luna public market and the high school through a pilot-test run on effectiveness of the technology as a wastewater treatment in 2017.
However, it was only Travellers Pension House that fully installed and adopted the technology.
“The previous septic tanks of the resort have a bottomless design, so the wastewater drains straight into the sea. The contamination of the water is one of the biggest problems of resorts in the island,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales also thanked the PCIEERD for providing a year’s supply of Vigormin and that after full implementation of the improved sewerage system, the resort has met the effluent standards set by the DENR.
Travellers Pension House’s success with Eco-Sep has led to serious interest among other hotels and beach resorts in Siargao, as Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen town has installed such system on Feb. 10.
The Eco-Sep is a self-sustaining, portable and movable wastewater treatment system that uses an innovative combination of bio-stimulation and filtration enhanced with organominerals.