MALAY, Aklan – A German private research association introduced a sustainable way of treating wastewater in Boracay Island.
The Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) proposed to the Malay municipal government the “Black Water Shield Operation,” a short-term emergency plan to stop the discharge of wastewater in Boracay’s major sewage outfalls.
The Black Water Shield Operation is a community-based approach that will employ a decentralized water treatment system, a low-cost initiative that BORDA developed in over 25 countries.
These countries include India, Nepal, Africa, Middle East, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and Philippines, among others.
“I think it (Black Water Shield Operation) is timely considering the sanitation problems in Boracay. BORDA is here to propose a comprehensive wastewater treatment system not only for Boracay but also for the entire town of Malay,” said BORDA chief strategy officer Dr. Michael Aragon.
Aragon added that the Black Water Shield Operation will “contain the dumping of wastewater to the open sea.”
The water treatment system can be operational within months after its establishment. It needs no electricity to operate.
“Wastewater treatment is a costly process because of electricity, but, this German-technology we introduced is very affordable and sustainable. The public-private partnership project also has no forward-cost to the local government (of Malay),” Aragon added.
Collection tanks will be installed near the wastewater outfalls, especially those in Bulabog beach and in Barangay Manoc-manoc.
“This project will not dump wastewater or cesspool to the open sea. We will intercept the wastewater in the identified outfalls and drainage systems and divert it to man-made, low-cost wastewater treatment and transfer the treated water to a rehabilitated wetland,” Aragon explained.
Aside from introducing the water treatment facility, BORDA will also initiate the re-planting of mangroves and bamboos in Barangay Manoc-manoc. (With a report from Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
