Tabang Sendong

 

Xavier Ecoville, the resettlement site for the typhoon Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro City (CdeO), focuses not only on providing shelters for their partner beneficiaries but also with giving them opportunities to rebuild their lives through various development programs. One of which is the vegetable gardening where they can plant their own crops for their daily consumption. But because of the limited water supply, the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WaSH) cluster of Xavier Ecoville has decided to explore different technologies wherein they can re-use the waste water generated in the site for gardening and other purposes.

 

In response to this need, Engr. Jun Granada of the Ateneo Innovation Center has visited Xavier Ecoville last March 4 to give a workshop on waste water management system. This has already been adapted in two places at the Ateneo de Manila University campus- the Marian Garden and the Matteo Ricci Study Hall. But it’s the first of its kind to be introduced to CdeO.  

 

Granada, together with the engineers of Xavier Ecoville and WaSH focal person Analiza Miso, spent an entire day learning about the system and applying it to the site. The result was a small scale waste water management facility installed by the partner beneficiaries themselves in an area in the temporary site. 

 

The gray water from the wash area passes through two stages of treatment. In first stage, a bed liner, sand, gravel and pebbles are used to filter the solid particles left in the gray water. Then it flows through a pipe leading to the second stage with sand, gravel coconut husks, charcoal and pebbles. At this stage, the foul odor in the water is minimized. Both treatment stages have umbrella plants which also help in treating the gray water. 

 

A waste water team composed of chemical engineers from Xavier University headed by Engr. Maria Isabel Dumalao-Tan will then certify the usability of the water. 

 

The expansion of the waste water management system for the bathrooms and wash area of the temporary site is already underway. It has been planned that various plants will be tested to see which one has more filtering power. The set-up yielding the best and cost-effective results will be remodeled in the Xavier Ecoville permanent relocation site. 

 

This sustainable and eco-friendly innovation is just one of the other facilities found in Xavier Ecoville. It stays true to its name- a community exploring new solutions, practicing the green culture.     

 

Photo from: Analiza U. Miso