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[av_heading heading=’Ordinance establishes septage mgt program’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has passed an ordinance establishing a septage management program that ensures public health safety.
Residences, businesses and institutions must have septic tanks for primary treatment of wastes, said Councilor R Leone Gerochi, author of the ordinance.
“The improper disposal of untreated septic waste could spread diseases, make water unfit for human consumption and other uses, contaminate groundwater, threaten biodiversity, and reduce the quality of life of citizens,” added Gerochi.
The ordinance covers the following:
* residential buildings, but not limited to dormitories, boardinghouses and bed spaces offered for rent, retail stores and other businesses if the owner is living therein
* commercial buildings, including, but not limited to stores, malls, groceries, markets, hotels, resorts, recreational establishment, poultries and livestock raising
* industrial establishments, including, but not limited to factories and manufacturing plants
* government structures, including, but not limited to barangay halls, government offices and public utilities
* institutional structures, including, but not limited to schools, colleges, universities, churches and health centers
* commercial and industrial establishments generating wastewater containing substances of commercial nature, such as, but not limited to oil or fuel residue, metals or high volume of fats and grease and institutional establishments producing wastewater containing hazardous toxic, chemical, infectious and radioactive waste should be required to put in place appropriate treatment facilities or program.
Such prerequisites should be duly approved by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) based on the existing effluent standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The ordinance provides that all houses or buildings should have an approved excreta septic tank for treatment of domestic sewage unless it is connected to a sewerage system with an off-site waste treatment facility or connected to an on-site wastewater treatment facility.
Liquid or solid materials from septic tank should be removed and transferred by an accredited hauler or pumper to duly accredited treatment facilities following the Department of Health (DOH) guidelines and other government regulations on dislodging and transport of sludge, except those that are operating under the authority and supervision of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).
The ordinance also stated that all domestic septage must be processed and treated before disposal in strict conformance with DOH Operations Manual on the Rules and Regulations.
All septage facilities, including treatment and disposal facilities and septage truck yards must maintain hygienic and safe environment.
Facility owners must be responsible for ensuring that effluent from all treatment facilities meets applicable national and local water quality standards, through regular monitoring.
The ordinance also sets guidelines on the general design and construction requirement of septic tanks.
It establishes the creation of City Septage Management Authority (CSMA) which is composed of representatives from CENRO, City Health Office (CMO), General Services Office (GSO), City Treasurer’s Office, City Legal Office, City Engineer’s Office, MIWD, DENR, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), academe, Association of Barangay Captains and non-government organization (NGO) who will be appointed by the City Chief Executive and from NGO member of the City Development Council.
Barangay officials, headed by Barangay Captains, in coordination with CSMA, CENRO and CHO-Sanitary Division, are required to conduct an inventory or mapping of households that do not have septic tanks and likewise, households with existing septic tanks that do not comply with the standards.
Also included is inventory on wells, jetmatic pumps and other such data which are needed in the effective and efficient implementation of the ordinance.
Property owners or administrators who do not have a septic tanks, whose septic tank is not designed properly, or is inaccessible for dislodging unless they have an alternative system approved by CENRO, will be issued with a notice of non-conformity by the CSMA.
Owners of non-complying establishment or household who failed to comply with the provisions of the ordinance within the period given by CSMA for compliance, which in any case should not exceed to one year from notice, after court proceedings will be subject to penalties.
For the first offense, violators will be fined P5,000. For subsequent violations, there is a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment of not less than one day or more than one year, at the discretion of the court plus cancellation of business permits for commercial establishment. (Merriane Grace J. Ereñeta, Iloilo City PIO/PN)
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