PhilWater 2014 features Boracay Water’s sustainability practices

Boracay Water general manager Ben Manosca shared water and used water operational measures and sustainability practices undertaken by the company to ensure the continued protection and sustainable development of the famed Boracay Island, the venue of the recently-concluded 22nd Philippine Water Works Association International Conference and Exhibition.

“Emphasizing environmental stewardship while continuously providing water and used water services is essential in upholding the Island as one of the country’s top tourist destinations while supporting its economic viability,” said Manosca.

Boracay Water was formed through the partnership of Manila Water and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) in 2009 to provide the water and used water services in the Island of Boracay, Malay, Aklan, particularly in its three barangays—Manocmanoc, Balabag and Yapak.

“Four years after we took over the operations and management of water and sewerage system of the Island, our public-private partnership with Tieza has resulted to 99.9 percent water reliability due to the rehabilitation of the water treatment plant and has increased water availability to its service area to 100 percent from 60 percent.  Level of system losses is down to 12.4 percent in January 2014 from 37 percent in 2009,” Manosca adds.

To ensure the treatment of used water, Boracay Water operates the Balabag Sewage Treatment Plant, a facility that complies with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) standards in processing 6.5 million liters of used water per day. Apart from this, three vacuum trucks provide regular desludging services and sewer service connections which is now at 877, were raised to more than half compared to the number during pre-concession.