Eco-toilet system launched to cut pollution in C. Luzon Manila Bay areas

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here recently launched an eco-toilet system in an effort to mitigate pollution in Manila Bay areas.

 

DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. stressed that the eco-toilet facility developed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) here aimed to mitigate potential contamination of river systems and coastal areas from E. coli, scientific 𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘪.

 

According to studies, sources of E. coli can include untreated human sewage, failing septic tanks, livestock agriculture, pets, wildlife, and illegal connections from home sewer systems to surface water.

 

The newly-introduced facility built at Sibul II Mangrove Nursery and Eco-Tourism Park in Orion, Bataan promotes the use of a waterless toilet or dry toilet system as an alternate solution to water-flushed toilets.

 

“Through this initiative, the volume of pollutants draining to water bodies along the Manila Bay area may be reduced, which will eventually help us in achieving the coliform limit of 200 MPN/100mL for Class C water classification,” Moreno said.

 

The executive director added that the concept of this first waterless toilet facility in the region supports DENR’s endeavor to integrate biotechnology as a powerful solution to address environmental concerns and mitigate effects of climate change.

 

Experts from the MGB here explain that the eco-toilet system works by separating the human waste from urine, which passes through the urine diverting dehydrating toilet bowl.

 

Upon separation, the nitrogen-rich solid waste are then covered with agro-industrial materials like fly ash, bentonite and zeolite, including organic rich matters such as shredded dried leaves and carbonized rice husks.

 

This creates an alternating layer of n-rich and c-rich materials, which act as basic components of fertilizer.

 

On the other hand, the urine is likewise treated and processed into a liquid fertilizer.

 

The DENR here is set to install these toilet facilities in other Manila Bay areas in the region. (-30-)