i SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT AND WASTE WATER DISPOSAL PRACTICES
AMONG HOUSEHOLD CONCESSIONAIRES OF WATER DISTRICT IN LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES
ELIZALDY O. NOVILLOS
Special Problem submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management
Faculty of Management and Development Studies University of Philippines Open University
June 2021
ii UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
OPEN UNIVERSITY
Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management
ELIZALDY O. NOVILLOS
SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT AND WASTE WATER DISPOSAL PRACTICES
AMONG HOUSEHOLD CONCESSIONAIRES OF WATER DISTRICT IN LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES
Faculty of Management and Development Studies Date of Submission
June 2021
Permission is given for the following people to have access to this special problem:
Available to the general public (Yes)
Available only after consultation with author/thesis/dissertation adviser
(Yes) Available only to those bound by confidentiality agreement (Yes)
Student’s Signature:
Signature of Special Problem Adviser:
iii University Permission Page
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ELIZALDY O. NOVILLOS 10/06/2021
Student Name over Signature and Date
iv ACCEPTANCE SHEET
This Special Problem entitled “Septage Management and Waste Water Disposal Practices among Household Concessionaires of Water District in Laguna, Philippines” prepared and submitted by ELIZALDY O. NOVILLOS in partial fulfillment of the requirements of ENRM 290 (Special Problem) is hereby
accepted.
____________________
RAMIRO F. PLOPINO, PhD Special Problem Adviser
_09/09/2021_
Date Signed
________________________
CONSUELO DL. HABITO, PhD
Program Chair, Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management Program
____________________________
Date Signed
_____________________________
PRIMO G. GARCIA, PhD
Dean, Faculty of Management and Development Studies ____________________________
Date Signed 10/12/2021
10/29/2021
v Biographical Sketch
ELIZALDY O. NOVILLOS
Engr. Elizaldy O. Novillos is a graduate of BS Mechanical Engineering at Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba. He finished his diploma degree on Environment and Natural Resources Management (DENRM) at University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Los Baños Laguna. He has previous work experiences locally and abroad which engage in manufacturing process and electro-mechanical jobs. Currently, he is connected to Calamba Water District and in charge of the operations and management of water supply system of the city.
vi ABSTRACT
Title : Septage Management and Waste Water Disposal Practices among Household Concessionaires of Water District in Laguna, Philippines
Author : ELIZALDY O. NOVILLOS
Degree : Masters of Environment and Natural Resources Management, MENRM
School : University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Adviser : RAMIRO F. PLOPINO, PhD
The study was conducted to determine the current sewage or wastewater/septage disposal system practices of the residential areas serviced by the Calamba Water District, the level of awareness of concessionaires (residential) on specific rules in septic tank construction as stipulated in the National Plumbing Code as well as their level of compliance on said rules and the attitude about septage treatment plant service and their willingness to pay for it.
The researcher used descriptive design to describe the current sewage or wastewater/septage disposal system practices of the residential areas serviced by the Calamba Water District. Simple statistical analyses such as frequency and percent were used in the analysis of the results.
vii The families living on the house hold have common kitchen and toilet.
Majority of the respondents had an average income of Php 50,001 and above. The respondent dwell on single detached and owned the house. The practice of the respondents in discharge the greywater is thru the owned septic tank and piped sewer system. Members of the household usually use flush in their own septic tank.
Majority of the respondents have two chambers of septic that has a manhole to insert the desludging pipe. The location of the septic tank is accessible for desludging. Majority of the respondents are not aware of the septage management program of the LGU.
The benefits of the septage management program were indicated by the respondents including the lessening of water pollution, reducing occurrence of water-borne diseases and preventing the overflow of septic tanks. The respondents are willing to avail and pay for the regular desludging services of septic tanks that will be offered by the Water District. Recommendations were given in the study.
Keywords: septage management, waste water, household
viii Declaration
The following declaration, signed by the candidate:
This is to certify that
i the special problem comprises only my original work towards the MENRM except were indicated in the Preface,
ii due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used, iii the special problem is fewer than 25 000 words in length, exclusive of tables,
maps, bibliographies and appendices
ix ACKNOWLEDGMENT
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
- Luke 1:37
The researcher wishes to express his sincerest gratitude to the following people who in one way have been instrumental in the completion of this project:
To Dr. Primo G. Garcia, Dean, Faculty of Management and Development Studies, for his professional criticisms and suggestions during the conceptualization of this project;
To Dr. Consuelo Dl. Habito, Program Chair, Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management Program in giving her wisdom and insights for the success of this study. The author is gratefully indebted to her invaluable comments on this project
To Dr. Ramiro F. Plopino, my thesis adviser, for his patience, motivation, enthusiasm, and immense knowledge as he provided inputs that helped the author in completion of the research and writing of this research;
To the entire management of CWD, for their approval, support and participation in the conduct this study.
x To my friends, Ms. Eula Javier, Maureen and Ella Masa, Monnete Alzona, Depro Alinsunurin and others for their utmost support and patience during the conduct of this study;
To my wife Rosemaire Novillos, to my son and daughters Zed, Zey and Zen, who have been very supportive to me emotionally and financially and became my inspiration to finish my study; and,
A deep sense of reverence, my gratitude towards my parents Arcadia and Enrique Novillos, for providing their support and continuous encouragement throughout the years of my study especially and writing this project. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank you;
And finally, to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, for giving the wisdom, strength, understanding and knowledge in making all this possible; His guidance has greatly helped the researcher surpassed in finalizing this project and for giving him the will and determination to achieve my dreams.
EON
xi TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Title Page i
Acceptance Sheet ii
Biographical Sketch Abstract
iii
Declaration v
Acknowledgement vii
Table of Contents ix
List of Appendices ix
List of Figures xi
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction 1
Objectives of the Study 4
Conceptual Framework 4
Definition of Terms 6
Chapter 2
A REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Review of Related Literature 7
Chapter 3
METHODOLOGY
xii
Research Design 23
Instrumentation/Tools for Data Gathering 23
Population, sampling frame, samples 24
Data Gathering Procedures 25
Chapter 4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 30
Chapter 5
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
Summary of Findings 50
Conclusions 54
Recommendation s 52
REFERENCES 54
APPENDICES
REQUEST LETTER FOR THE WATER DISTRICT 56 SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE 57
xiii LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
1 Breakdown of respondents per barangay 25 2 Socio-demographic profile of respondents 31 3 Distribution of respondents based on age 32
4 Number of household members 33
5 Average monthly income of households 34
6 Respondents’ other sources of income 35
7 Dwelling and ownership type 36
8 Main source of water supply and its availability 37
9 Practices in discharge of grey water 39 10 Distribution of respondents on toilet facility and
sharing
40 11 Distribution of respondents’ practice of grey
water disposal
41
12 Number of chambers and manhole in the septic tank
42
xiv
13 The location of the septic tank 43
14 Desludging status of septic tank 44
15 Awareness of concessionaires on LGU-initiated programs on sanitation
45
16 Perceived benefits of the septage management program
46
17 Distribution of respondents based on willingness to avail and pay for the regular desludging services
47
18 Mode of payment preferred by the respondents 48
19 Willingness to pay monthly for desludging once every 5 years
49
xv LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE PAGE
1 2
Conceptual Framework
Location map of Calamba City
4 25
1
1 CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Introduction
The Philippines is rich in water resources as evidenced by 824 water bodies nationwide (DENR, 2019). The classifications constantly increase as more and more water bodies are discovered. However, despite this richness, water pollution is and remains a national concern as factors such as population, urbanization, and industrialization continue to rise. Given the rate that these factors are going, it is no surprise as to why the water quality as well as sanitation in many areas in the country is poor and unsafe. This then leads us to discussing not only the current status and reasons for the degradation of water quality in the Philippines but also and more importantly, the responses of the citizens towards this environmental crisis, specifically in Calamba City, Laguna as this is the area of inquiry and analysis chosen for the completion of this research.
The degradation of water quality is a result of indiscriminate disposal of domestic waste. Wastewater that is drained from the toilets (black water), baths and kitchen (grey water), ends up in rivers, streams and groundwater, eventually contaminates them. In Calamba City, the level of water pollution as measured in Numbeo’s pollution index is high and is worsened by the non- existence of an effective septic management system in the city. In a study entitled “A Comparative Analysis of Septage Management in Five Cities in the Philippines” conducted by Baltazar, et.al. (2021), it was reported that back in
2 2009, Calamba City passed a septage management ordinance which supposedly called for a septage and sewage management system in the area.
Due to insufficient funds however, the ordinance did not come into fruition. From then on until present, the city largely relies on private desludging companies for addressing clogged septic tanks. Desludging services usually cost around P 3,000 – P 4,500. However, because these companies do not have treatment facilities, collected septage is instead disposed in bodies of water. Calamba City is becoming more and more urbanized but, just like other cities in the country, develops without the provision of a sewage system still.
The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (CWA), its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and the National Sewerage and Septage Management Plan (NSSMP) outline the goals and objectives for sewage and septage management for cities and municipalities. The NSSMP target by the year 2020 was that all cities and municipalities should have a system in place for the proper collection and treatment of sewage and septage. There is no sewerage system in Calamba City and building a piped sewerage collection and treatment system is very expensive.
But given the responsibility of the local government unit with regards to this, there have been plans and initiatives discussed with Calamba Water District (CWD), the city’s local water supplier to finally address the persisting problem. CWD is a government- owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) and is approved under the Municipal Board Resolution Number 82, Series of 1974 of the Municipal Council of Calamba pursuant to Presidential Decree 198 or the Local Utilities Act of 1973. While CWD’s vision is to provide its concessionaires
3 with sustainable, reliable and adequate water supply, its other goal is to expand the scope of service within the area of jurisdiction to meet the growing demand of potable water as well as establish sewerage treatment as part of environmental preservation and protection. In response, City Ordinance No.
456 otherwise known as “An Ordinance Establishing a Sewerage and Septage Management System in the City of Calamba, Setting Guidelines for its Implementation” was then passed, owing to a need to establish a systematic and regular collection and treatment of septage in the City of Calamba as well as disposal of effluents and bio solids and provide penalties for non-compliance thereof. Currently, the construction of a septage treatment plant is underway and lot acquisition for this seems to be the only topic of discussion left.
Alongside this government response is the citizens’ vital role in the execution of proper septic management and waste disposal. As domestic waste is the leading cause of water pollution, a huge aspect that then needs to be assessed are the levels of awareness and current practices of residential establishments in terms of handling their respective wastes as well as their compliance (or lack thereof) with existing laws pertaining to this. It is in analyzing their responses that not only the government will be able to provide more effective and innovative solutions to the problem but also make Calamba City clean and safe entirely.
With this in mind, the researcher conducted a study on waste problems and the responses of the household establishments towards septage management and disposal in Calamba. It can be a great help to Calamba residents and to environment as well.
4 Objectives of the Study
The general objective of this study is to determine the wastewater and septage disposal and treatment practices among concessionaires in Calamba. Specifically, the study aims to:
1. Determine the current sewage or wastewater/septage disposal system practices of the residential areas serviced by the CWD;
2. Assess the level of awareness of residential concessionaires on specific rules in septic tank construction as stipulated in the National Plumbing Code as well as their level of compliance on said rules and;
3. Ascertain/describe the attitude of concessionaires about septage treatment plant service and their willingness to pay for it.
Conceptual Framework
Fig 1. The conceptual framework
5 The framework above shows the correlational relationship of improper wastewater management and septage disposal in the city of Calamba with the responses of the Calambeños regarding the said issue. Citizen response varies and so with assessing the current wastewater management and septage disposal practices of the citizens supposedly in line with state laws specifically the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and the National Sewerage and Septage Treatment Plan, their level of awareness in a more micro perspective given the City Ordinance No. 456, otherwise described as “An ordinance establishing a sewerage and septage management system in the City of Calamba, setting guidelines for its implementation”, and the measure of acceptance and/or willingness of the people to pay additional fees for the desludging services eventually offered by the establishment of a septage management plant/facility, this research may interconnect all factors mentioned as well as individually evaluate each one to be able to arrive to the conclusion that citizen response indeed plays a vital role in not only proper wastewater management and septage disposal but also and more importantly, the continuous supply of clean and safe water in Calamba City. As depicted in the diagram, there is clearly a link between all these factors given that one way or another, each aspect affects the success, implementation, and/or establishment of the other.
6 Definition of Terms
The following terms and phrases were defined in line with the operation of this study.
Grey water. It pertains to water from washing, bathing, kitchen.
Septage. It refers to thickened and partially treated sewage that is
removed from a septic tank.
Sewage. It pertains any wastewater containing human, animal or
vegetable waste matter in suspension or solution including human excreta and urine and may possibly contain liquids consisting of chemicals in solution.
Septage Treatment Process. It refers to the procedure on the treatment of water waste with fully mechanized system. The system is composed of a Septage receiving unit which includes screening of oil and grease, grit removal which will be considered as primary treatment.
7 CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This review of related literature focuses on three main points namely: (a) Current water quality in the Philippines, (b) Health and sanitation, (c) Septage Treatment Process (d) Awareness and Practices on Domestic Wastewater Sanitation and (e) Willingness to pay. The review consists of various articles, book chapters and journal publications, that discuss Septage Management System not only in the context of the Philippines but in other developing countries. There are also some sources that highlight the improvement of water quality and sanitation as well as the achievement of the millennium development goal of 2015 which aims to have an access to safe and potable water in the future.
Current Water Quality in the Philippines
The Philippines has come a long way in protecting, preserving and reviving the quality of its water bodies since the enactment of Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004. Endowed with 18 major river basins, 421 principal rivers, 79 natural lakes, and an extensive coastline of 36,289 kilometers, the country must continue the protection of these resources to ensure sustainable development. Although there are still challenges ahead, several activities have been initiated through the leadership of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), a few of which is the continuing preparation and publication of the National Water Quality Status Report from 2006 to 2013. This report presents the state of the Philippine water quality and
8 highlights the activities and programs of DENR and the different institutions involved in water quality management. This is to inform various stakeholders of the status of our country’s water bodies, and more importantly, encourage their active participation in the protection and preservation of these water resources.
Unabated dumping of untreated wastewater largely causes the pollution of waterways in the country. Typical households in the country use septic tanks that are emptied only when the toilets are clogged. Specifically, the septic tanks are designed for regular emptying in order to provide effective primary treatment of wastewater. When the tanks are full, sewage and septage overflow towards the drainage systems that end up in creeks, rivers and bodies of water.
In a journal entitled “Exploring water security and water demand determinants in rural areas. The case of canton Cotacachi in Ecuador,” the new set of sustainable development goals (SDGs) was established. While setting a specific goal for water security highlights the imperative acknowledgement of the central role of water in human development, improving the adequate coverage and quality of water supplies have been a priority in many rural development strategies, particularly after the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000. Accordingly, on 2010, the world had met the MDG target of halving the proportion of people who do not have access to safe drinking water, in advance of the MDG 2015 deadline and with the most important progress registered in Latin America (WHO/UNICEF, 2012).
According to the WHO/UNICEF 2008 Joint Monitoring Program, urban access to improved sanitation has risen to 57 and 78 percent in South Asia and Southeast Asia, respectively, due in large part to investments in onsite
9 sanitation systems such as septic tanks and pour-flush latrines. However, management of onsite sanitation remains a neglected component of urban sanitation and wastewater management. Recently the national governments, cities, and wastewater utilities have begun to address the management of septage, or the sludge that accumulates inside septic tanks. Most sanitation programs have focused on toilet installation and sewerage development, viewing onsite sanitation as an informal, temporary form of infrastructure. As a result, septic tanks and latrines in urban areas have become major sources of groundwater and surface water pollution, with significant environmental, public health, and economic impacts (US-Aid AECOM 2019).
However, huge disparities remain between and within countries, notably in the rural and small urban settlements of less developed regions. Considering these differences, governments and multinational donors have given substantial amount of money in providing water projects in rural areas, However, the success of which is only limited due to lack of sectoral integration, reduced community participation, inappropriate technology and weak institutional and management capabilities. In order to address water scarcity in the country, solutions have to emerge from the communities’ initiative and resources; however, the internal characteristics and operational forms of water management are barely recognized by water policy maker. Yet, the cultures around water play an important role in the formulation of legal framework and regulations for water access and water distribution which are discussed at local and other bigger scales (Boelens, 2015, Aguilar Rojas and Iza, 2009).
10 Several policies have been implemented to improve the water quality in the Philippines such as R.A. 9275 or Clean Water of 2004, Article 2, Chapter 1.
Section 8 of Domestic Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal, states that
“within five (5) years following the effectivity of this act, the agency vested to provide water supply and sewerage facilities and/or concessionaires in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized city (HUC’s) as defined in Republic Act. No.
7160, in coordination with Local Government Units, shall be required to connect the existing sewage line found in all subdivisions, condominiums, commercial centers, hotel, sports and recreational facilities, hospitals, market places, public buildings, industrial complex and other similar establishments including households to available sewerage system, provided that the said connection shall be subject to sewerage services charges/fees in accordance with the existing laws, rules and regulations unless the sources had already utilized their own sewerage system. Provided, further, that all sources of sewage and septage shall comply with the requirements herein”. (LawPhil.net)
More than 40 percent of residents in the Philippines and 85 percent of residents in Metro Manila use latrines and septic tanks. Only four percent of all citizens have a sewer connection that leads to a treatment facility. As there are only a few septage treatment facilities in the entire country, the Philippines treats very little of its domestic wastewater. As a result, the World Bank estimates that, although 78 percent of the country has access to improved sanitation, the Philippines still loses over $1.4 billion in related health, environmental, and economic costs per year. Recognizing the urgent need to address this issue, the Philippines adopted the Clean Water Act in 2004, which
11 requires national agencies, local governments, and water districts to provide either septage management or sewerage services for all domestic wastewater dischargers. Early adopting cities, such as Marikina and Dumaguete, have developed local ordinances requiring regular desludging and have constructed new septage treatment facilities. The Department of Health has also issued a comprehensive manual guiding local implementation of septage management programs. These efforts serve as useful models for other cities and countries.
The relevant national agencies are now developing a national implementation master plan for septage management. (USAID_AECOMFSMASIAreport2009)
The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires the preparation of a National Sewerage and Septage Management Program (NSSMP) as part of the integrated framework for water quality management. The NSSMP provides technology interventions and institutional and financial frameworks to guide local governments, water districts, and other local project proponents through the process of developing infrastructure projects to collect, treat, dispose of, and reuse wastewater. The NSSMP is a subsection of the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan, which is a broader, overarching plan that will include the full spectrum of sanitation challenges such as ending open defecation and treating sewage from markets, agriculture, industry and other point sources and non- point sources of wastewater pollution. While the NSSMP presents six intervention areas to address all of these sources, its primary focus is the larger infrastructure projects that LGUs and water districts will implement to control wastewater through septage and sewerage projects aimed at their densely populated urban centers. The NSSMP provides LGUs and water districts (WDs)
12 with a planning process and tools to identify their priority sanitation issues, and develop a local sanitation plan with short- and long-term strategies. It guides project proponents through the process of project conceptualization, as they combine technology options with promotion campaigns, financing, and local ordinances to ensure that wastewater management systems are sustainable over the long term. A Guide for Local Governments and Water Districts is included as an annex. It contains detailed information on the planning process, tools for estimating project size and costs, and technology options (JICAreport.pdf)
In areas not considered as Highly Urbanized Cities (HUC’s), the Department of Public and Highways (DPWH), in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and other concerned agencies shall employ septage or combined sewage-septage management system. The DOH, in coordination with other agencies shall formulate guidelines and standards for the collection, treatment and disposal. The role of Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in the Department of Health as per executive order no.
738 and further strengthened by the Supreme Court (GR. Nos.171947, December 18, 2008), is mandated to provide sewerage and sanitation facilities in Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan to prevent water pollution in the Manila Bay.
In a more micro perspective, there is still a need to improve the quality of water in Calamba, City, alongside the Supreme Court Mandamus and attainment of Millennium Development Goal of 2015. Calamba, City is also doing its part in ensuring easy access to safe and potable water. Calamba is
13 now becoming a highly urbanized city and without any septage treatment program, domestic and industrial waste in the area pose a threat to public health of the people of Calamba
Health and Sanitation
Infrastructure for the effective treatment of sewage is limited in developing countries. Municipal sewerage and the extent of domestic and industrial waste treatments are inadequate in most urban situations. When there is a municipal sewerage network in place, the coverage is usually incomplete and the treatment level is insufficient. Even when treatment facilities exist, poor maintenance and operation often results in the failure of treatment processes thus, causing the pollution of the effluent and production of water borne diseases when it discharges to bodies of water.
According to the World Bank Environmental Luzon Assessment Report for Calamba Laguna, about four (4) percent of the population are without satisfactory onsite facilities, and most of the wastewater from those with acceptable facilities find its way into the city drainage and water courses. These deficiencies are the major contributing factors for the environmental condition and poses risk to public health of the people of Calamba (World Bank Luzon Assessment, August 1997)
For residential households, grey water is directly discharged to the community drainage canals with no pre-treatment process. In addition, some households do not have septic tanks which directly discharge their ways to the canals. More so, most existing septic tanks found in residential communities are not properly designed and very seldom desludge.
14 The sanitation code of the Philippines PD 856 states “that, the health of the people, being of paramount importance, all efforts of public services should be directed towards the protection and promotion of health with the advance in the field of sanitation. Presidential Decree mandates that septic tank must be water- tight inspected once a year, cleaned when the sludge has reduced the liquid capacity by 50%, and the sludge must be treated and disposed properly.
It is unlawful to discharge untreated effluent of septic tanks and or sewage treatment plants to bodies of water without the approval of the Secretary of Health” (LawPhil.net).
Poor water quality is certain to happen when water gets polluted with industrial waste, human waste, animal waste, garbage, untreated sewage, chemical effluents, etc. Drinking or cooking with polluted water leads to waterborne diseases which include diarrhea, dysentery, polio and meningitis and infections such as amoebiasis, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis. Likewise, contaminated water could carry viruses such as Hepatitis A and E, bacteria like E. coli which can lead to dangerous diseases like cholera and typhoid fever.
Other waterborne diseases include diarrhea, dysentery, polio and meningitis.
Unclean water for washing can cause skin and infectious eye disease such as Trachoma which can also lead to visual impairment or blindness (Narayana Health, 2019).
15 Septage Treatment Process
The Septage Treatment Process proposes a fully mechanized system.
It refers to the physical, chemical, and biological processes used to remove pollutants from wastewater before discharging it into a waterbody. Facilities are designed to ensure effluent will not adversely affect the receiving waterbodies and meet the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. The primary materials requiring treatment in domestic wastewater are organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus. Treatment processes can take many forms depending on community needs and resources. Treatment at a Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) usually consists of pretreatment, followed by primary and secondary treatment, and additional advanced processes if resources are being recovered. The system is composed of a Septage acceptance unit which involves screening of oil and grease, grit removal which will be considered as primary treatment. (Water Environment Federation,2020)
The selected treatment technology provides process reliability and ease of operation while limiting the personnel exposure to raw septage.
Vacuum truck is required to collect and transport the septage in the treatment facility with 3 to 5 cubic meter capacity and having five trips per day to accommodate the plant requirements of 6O cu. m/day.
With the rapid deteriorating quality of water resources, it is necessary to put up a septage treatment process to improve and minimize water pollution that comes from domestic and commercial sectors. The City of Calamba has a
16 total land area of about 14,480 hectares and comprises of 54 Barangays that are inhabited by 511,298 people as of the 2018 census and this has been projected to increase to 820,832 inhabitants by 2042. As the town’s population grows and develops, it is important that right measures are taken to ensure that contaminated water is treated and recycled wherever is possible.
Awareness and Practices on Domestic Wastewater Sanitation
Amarille et.al (2021) declares that some pollution points sources causing health concerns in coastal and freshwater are from domestic sewage discharge, which include septic tanks that function in the primary sewage treatment process. Septic tanks are important in wastewater sanitation and should work effectively if properly installed and maintained. This study aims to determine the level of awareness on wastewater and sanitation practices of the communities in the prime coastal tourism area in Surigao City. A face-to-face interview with 425 respondents and a key informant interview with a government office representative is employed. Indicators for the level of awareness were assessed using the Likert scale. Participants rated from 1 (not aware) to 4 (highly aware) to the indicators presented and asked to describe their conditions and practices related to sanitation. The overall mean of the respondent's level of awareness is 2.98, interpreted as high. The strongest level of awareness is the improper septage management can cause water-related diseases, and the lowest level of awareness is that septic tanks should be regularly desludged. Respondents know that it is the LGUs’ obligation to manage or improve water quality (76.9%), and it is their obligation to support wastewater sanitation programs (80.9%). Almost all (99.1%) have private toilets
17 with a pour-flushing type. Chlorine is commonly used for cleaning, and 98.1%
of the respondents installed septic tanks as their household disposal facility.
Respondents encountered no issues relating to waterborne illnesses, pollution of their drinking water, and beach waters in their locality. LGUs design strategies and undertake activities to improve sanitation practices by enacting a sewage treatment and septage management ordinance. The LGU can pass an ordinance requiring residents with septic tanks that have been in use for at least five years to desludge them using private service providers in the city.
Effective social and educational efforts and policy interventions must be developed for the long-term protection of water resources and the strengthening of strong local governance in the coastal tourism area.
The work of Baltazar et. al (2021) assessed and compared septage management systems in Baliwag, Calamba, Muntinlupa, Pasig, and San Fernando, the Philippines, using fecal waste flow diagrams and service delivery scorecards. According to the fecal waste flow diagrams, San Fernando is the most successful in preventing its environment’s pollution. It is followed by Baliwag, Muntinlupa, and Pasig. In Calamba, all of the fecal waste is disposed of to the environment. According to the scorecards, Pasig has the most efficient septage management service, followed by San Fernando, Baliwag, Muntinlupa, and Calamba. Among the five areas, San Fernando can be considered to have the most efficient septage management system as it had the best fecal waste flow diagram and second highest ratings in the service delivery scorecard. It might have been an advantage that the city itself is managing the whole
18 system—from implementing rules for septic tank plans, to the collection, treatment, and disposal of septage
Willingness to pay
Lakes are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to the impacts of unregulated industrialization in rapidly urbanizing areas. These threatened ecosystems suffer from policies that lack knowledge of the indirect yet significant roles of regulating ecosystem services. This study utilized contingent valuation to estimate the willingness to pay for the water quality restoration of Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City, Philippines. Results showed that its five lakeshore villages ascribe a WTP of PHP 177.09/household/month (1 USD = 42.45 PHP) or PHP 7,102,017/year for this service, with 71 % of the respondents willing to pay the given bids to improve and/or rehabilitate the lake’s water quality. The probability of a ‘Yes’ response varied significantly (α = 0.05) with the bid price, location, household income, and respondents’
willingness to participate in water quality management programs for Sampaloc Lake. Results of this study confirm the respondents’ positive willingness to pay for the improvement of Sampaloc Lake’s water quality, indicating the initial feasibility of institutionalizing the Environmental Users Fee System (EUFS) for the household residents. This valuation adds a fresh perspective to ongoing decision-making processes for urban lake management in line with the spreading urbanization in a developing country like the Philippines. This study identifies environmental education on social-ecological interactions as an important prerequisite for holistic policy decisions that will guide the city into sustainably managing its natural lake resources. Further assessment of the
19 lake’s other ecosystem services is recommended for a complete understanding of its total economic value.
The study of Ugyen Dorji et.al (2019) observed that only eight of the 35 classified towns (22.8%) have public sewerage systems, with an average coverage of 19.7% of Bhutan’s total urban population, or 7.4% of Bhutan’s entire population. The imported modular wastewater treatment technology was significantly more expensive than alternative options; however, approximately six towns have already adopted this technology, due to a lack of space for a much cheaper waste stabilization pond. Currently, over 80% of Bhutan’s urban population depends on the on-site sanitation system for their domestic wastewater disposal; however, over 40% of these properties lacked a soak-pit system for the safe disposal of septic tank effluent. Therefore, this study indicates that urban settlements in Bhutan are potentially subjected to overflow of significant amount of hazardous septic tank effluents directly into the environment posing significant risk to public and the environment. A critical urban plot space analysis indicates that the current system of on-site sanitation is inadequate and unsuitable for the current urban settings. Since it is impractical for the government to provide public sewerage system to all the towns, a low-cost public sewerage system, or an alternative and improved on- site treatment system, needs to be explored and promoted to achieve long-term environmental objectives.
20 Using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), the study looks at the septage management and sewerage services demand of households with latrines in Dagupan City, Philippines vis-à-vis the cost of providing these services. The survey covers a total of 1,200 respondents for the septage and sewerage demand study. For the septage and sewerage studies, income was shown to significantly influence willingness to pay (WTP). WTP was also found to increase across income groups, indicating the plausibility of implementing a socialized pricing scheme for the septage and sewerage fees. Another important implication of the results is that increased demand for sanitation facilities would only take place as general income levels of Dagupan City improve. Under certain assumptions, the individually rational and financially viable Septage Fee is around PHP 46/month with optimal desludging frequency of 3 yrs. This means that a self-financed Septage Program is possible for the city. However, the case is different for the Sewerage Program since none of the proposed fees (including the average WTP of PHP 102/month for the whole sample) is sufficient to cover the huge investment costs associated with a self- financed sewerage infrastructure. Thus, the Local Government Unit (LGU) has to source funds elsewhere. (Harder et.al 2013)
Kigali, Rwanda lacks a centralized sewer system, which leaves residents to choose between on-site options; the majority of residents in informal settlements use pit latrines as their primary form of sanitation. When their pits fill, the pits are either sealed, or emptied; emptying is often done by hand and then dumped in the environment, putting the residents and the broader population at risk of infectious disease outbreaks. In this paper, we used to
21 reveal and stated preference models to: (1) estimate the demand curve for improved emptying services; and, (2) evaluate household preferences and the willingness to pay (WTP) for different attributes of improved emptying services.
We also quantify the costs of improved service delivery at different scales of production. The study included 1167 households from Kigali, Rwanda across 30 geographic clusters. Our results show that, at a price of US$79 per pit, 15%
of all the pits would be emptied by improved emptying services, roughly the current rate of manual emptying. Grouping empties by neighborhood and ensuring that each truck services an average of four households per day could reduce the production costs to US$44 per empty, ensuring full cost coverage at that price. At a lower price of US$24, we estimate that the sealing of pits might be fully eliminated, with full coverage of improved emptying services for all pits; this would require a relatively small subsidy of US$20 per empty. Our results show that households had strong preferences for fecal sludge (FS) treatment, formalized services (which include worker protections), and distant disposal. The results from the study indicate a few key policies and operational strategies that can be used for maximizing the inclusion of low-income households in safely managed sanitation services, while also incorporating household preferences and participation. (Burt 2019)
The focus of Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) was to build toilets to make India open defecation free. While India has succeeded in achieving this goal, to move toward “safely managed sanitation” as per target 6.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary to ensure that all fecal waste is safely collected and treated. The common practice for desludging
22 of septic tanks is “demand-based desludging” rather than a regular service.
Such practices have adverse social and environmental impacts. To overcome these shortcomings, scheduled desludging is advocated. This paper first reviews the need for regular desludging of septic tanks. It then outlines the emerging experience of design and implementation of scheduled desludging for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable sanitation to achieve social and environmental benefits in two Indian cities. In these cities, a performance-linked annuity payment framework is used to engage a private desludging enterprise.
Payment is met through a sanitation tax and transfer from the general property taxes. It outlines the benefits of scheduled desludging in Indian cities and argues that it is critical to achieve improved sanitation.
23 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY Research Design
The researcher employed a descriptive research design for this study.
Descriptive studies play a major part in the instrument development for the measurement of many things, instruments that are employed under all types of quantitative research as data-gathering instruments, like questionnaires, interviews and observation.
The design was chosen because the researcher attempted to gather data to describe the residential concessionaires’ practices in water waste management, their extent of compliance to the Philippine National Plumbing Code and their willingness to pay for septage management program that CWD is planning to undertake.
Instrumentation/Tools for Data Gathering
Given the current state of the country brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the tool for data gathering for this study was limited to the survey questionnaire which was distributed to sampled representative of the household establishments in Calamba City. Past research studies on the same topic were also used as reference for more information and analytical purposes.
This paper incorporated a quantitative approach to data gathering as the health and safety of both the researcher and other stakeholders involved are still of paramount importance.
24 The survey questionnaire has four parts. The first part includes questions about the demographic profile of the respondents. The second part is designed to determine the concessionaire-respondents’ current sewage or wastewater/septage disposal system practices. The third part was to a assess the level of awareness of residential concessionaires on the specific rules in septic tank construction as stipulated in the National Plumbing Code as well as their level of compliance on said rules. The latter part of the questionnaire seeks to determine the attitude of concessionaires about septage treatment plant service and their willingness to pay for it
Population, sampling frame, samples
The population studied in this research was composed of the household or residential concessionaires in Calamba City. According to its city profile, Calamba is comprised of 54 barangays, with a population of 454,856 people (PSA, 2015), 23,655 households, and 1,238 commercial establishments to date. Based on this, Calamba City was declared as the “most populated town in Laguna province” (POPCEN, 2015). The households were selected as the population since, based on records, they generate the largest amount of waste and septage as compared to the commercial establishments.
The researcher has chosen the three barangays of Bucal, Halang and Pansol simply because residents in these areas are the major concessionaires of the Calamba Water District. The G power program was employed to identify the number of respondents of the study. In terms of sampling technique, convenient sampling was employed for the study. Table 1 presents the breakdown of respondents from each barangay selected.
25 Table 1. Breakdown of respondents per barangay
BARANGAY Frequency Percent
Pansol 48 32.0
Halang 31 20.7
Bucal 71 47.3
Total 150 100.0
Fig 2. Map showing the location of Calamba City and the three barangays as study sites
Data Gathering Procedures
A pilot test was carried out with five people in order to understand whether or not the questions were clear and understandable for respondents.
Using the feedback received, some questions were made clearer and some questions were reformulated during and after the pilot survey. Upon approval of the final survey questionnaire, the researcher sent a letter to the identified
26 respondents requesting them to participate in the study. In the said letter, the researcher explained the aims of the study and the procedures to be undertaken to ensure their health and safety. It was emphasized that in answering the questionnaire, utmost confidentiality shall be observed and that data that they will share will be solely used for academic purposes and if warranted, they will be used as basis for identifying plans and projects by the CWD to improve its services to its clients.
After receiving the respondents’ confirmation, the researcher gathered quantitative data from the respondents through house-to-house interview where possible. Otherwise, other respondents were conveniently chosen and where given questionnaires during their office calls to pay their water bills. They were also provided a quick orientation on the aims of the study. Then after the collection of data, the researcher consolidated and tabulated the results and submitted them to the professional statistician for analysis.
Data Analysis
The study used simple statistical tools such as the frequency and percentage.
27
28
29 Photos taken during the distribution of questionnaires to sampled respondents in their house and at the CWD office.
30 CHAPTER 4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter presents the data presentation, discussion and analysis.
The first part focuses on the socio-demographic profile of the respondents including their level of awareness and compliance to rules on septic tank construction based on National Plumbing Code, their practices as regards septic tank construction. It also describes the respondent-concessionaires’
awareness on ordinances and septage management program, how they perceive of the benefits of septage management. The last section deals with concessionaires’ attitude on septage management plant and willingness to pay.
Socio-demographic profile of respondents
Sex, employment status, kitchen and toilet availability
Table 2 shows the social and demographic characteristics of the concessionaire-respondents. There was a preponderance of male respondents (61.3%) over their female counterparts with more than a little over one-third (38.7 %) of females. In addition, there are more than three-fourths (90%) of them are working, which implies that most respondents are practicing their professions and are wage-earners. All respondents have a common kitchen in their house, which means that they can dispose of their grey water in one place and be able to place the water in one septage location.
Most families (82%) said they also have a common toilet at home as compared to just 27 respondents (18%) who reported the non-availability of a
31 common toilet in their house. This result indicates that majority households are able to have access to a healthy living environment, and that toilets constructed protect natural resources such as surface water, groundwater, and soil, and provide safety, security, and dignity for people when they defecate or urinate.
Table 2 Socio-demographic profile of respondents
Sex frequency Percent
Female 58 38.7
Male 92 61.3
Total 150 100.0
Employment Status frequency Percent
Not working 15 10.0
Working 135 90.0
Total 150 100.0
Kitchen availability frequency Percent
With common kitchen 150 100.0
Without common kitchen
0 0
Total 150 100.0
Toilet availability frequency Percent
Without common toilet 27 18.0
With common toilet 123 82.0
Total 150 100.0
32 Age of respondents
More than half (59.3%) of the respondents belong to either early adult or late adulthood stage, that is between 30 to 54 years old. Only seven respondents are senior citizens.
Table 3. Distribution of respondents based on age
Age frequency Percent
60 and above 7 4.7
55 to 59 25 16.7
50 to 54 21 14.0
45 to 49 15 10.0
40 to 44 13 8.7
35 to 39 32 21.3
30 to 34 8 5.3
25 to 29 15 10.0
21 to 24 5 3.3
Below 21 9 6.0
Total 150 100.0
33 Household size
Table 4 presents the number people living in the household. Majority (58%) of the respondents have 4 to 6 household members. This means that most respondents come from a typical Philippine household that consists on the average of 4.8 people. There are only 14 respondents (9.3%) who reported that their household members are between 0 to 12 while 23 respondents (21.3%) as having household members that fall below the Filipino average Filipino size.
Table 4 Number of household members
Household size frequency Percent
10 to 12 14 9.3
7 to 9 17 11.3
4 to 6 87 58
1 to 3 32 21.3
Total 150 100.0
Monthly income
Table 5 shows the average monthly income of concessionaire- respondents. More than a third (37.4%) of them has a monthly income between P20, 000 and 50, 000 pesos. Only one-third (31.3%) of the respondents reported that they have an average monthly income of P50, 000 and above.
Meanwhile, 9.3 percent of the respondents are actually within the poverty threshold as they are, at the time of the survey, receiving a monthly income of
34 P10, 000 and below-- a condition where a family of five members will have difficulty to meet both basic food and non-food needs in a month. Nonetheless, it can be assumed that most respondents will have the capability to pay a monthly fee for a septage treatment plant service if implemented in the future.
Table 5 Average monthly income of households
Monthly income range frequency Percent
P 50,001 and above 47 31.3
P 30,001 – 50,000 19 12.7
P20,001 – 30,000 19 12.7
P15,001 – 20,000 18 12.0
P12,001 – 15,000 30 20.0
P10,001 – 12,000 3 2.0
P8,001 – 10,000 8 5.3
P5,001 – 8,000 4 2.7
P3,001 – 5,000 2 1.3
Total 150 100.0
Other sources of income
Table 6 shows the respondents’ other source of income. More than half (59.3%) said that they have no other source of income to use at the time of the survey. Twenty-four (16%) of them said that they obtain additional income from rental fees. Some families are engaged in farming and real estate as
35 economic activity to supplement their budget. Three respondents reported that they are recipients of the government 4Ps program. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a human development measure of the Philippine government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18. It is patterned after the conditional cash transfer (CCT) schemes in Latin American and African countries, which have lifted millions of people around the world from poverty. The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the lead government agency of the 4Ps.
Table 6. Respondents’ other sources of income
Other Sources of Income Frequency Percent
4Ps 3 2.0
Rental 24 16.0
Real State 8 5.3
Farming 7 4.7
None 89 59.3
Others 19 12.7
Total 150 100.0
36 Concessionaires’ level of awareness and compliance to National
Plumbing Code
This section provides the data on the level of awareness of the concessionaire-respondents on the rule on the construction of house septic tank based on the National Plumbing Code in the Philippines. The data gathered were on the concessionaires’ type of dwelling, their home ownership, main source of water supply and the household’s water availability from water source. Data are presented on Table 7.
It can be noted that more than half of the respondents are staying in their own house (67.3%) in a single detached dwelling (64.7%). Only one- fourth (25.3%) of the concessionaires are renting. The results suggest that while most own their dwelling, a higher rate of adoption of the septage management and disposal technology will turn out.
Table 7. Dwelling and ownership type
Dwelling type Frequency Percentage
Apartment 15 10.0
Duplex / Quadruplex 38 25.3
Single Detached 97 64.7
Total 150 100.0
Residential Ownership
Renting 38 25.3
Own 101 67.3
Others 11 7.3
Total 150 100.0
37 Main source of water supply
Main source of water for drinking, washing and for other purposes was determined among the concessionaires. As shown in Table 8, the water district entity is the main source of water of the majority (72%) of the respondents.
Specifically, it is the Calamba Water District, which is a local corporate entity that operates and maintains a water supply system in Calamba, Laguna Province, which regularly supplies their water needs. It is established on a local option basis and, like LWUA (local Water Utilities Administration), is classified as a government-owned and controlled corporation or GOCC. A Water District is run by a five-man Board of Directors through a General Manager. The public/communal well/pump has been the source of water by only two (1.3%) respondents. It implies that the respondents are concessionaires of the water district which can directly access the septage management disposal program if it is pushed through.
Table 8. Main source of water supply and its availability Source of water supply frequency Percent
Water District 108 72.0
Own Well / Pump 25 16.7
Private Water Supply 12 8.0
Municipal Waterworks System 3 2.0
Public/Communal Well/ Pump 2 1.3
Total 150 100.0
Water availability
Available all year round 143 95.3
Insufficient during summer 7 4.7
Total 150 100.0
38 Meanwhile, the table also shows water supply is available year-round as evidenced by more than half of the respondents (95.3%) saying that water can be sourced from the local water service provider in the area. During summertime, it is expected that water becomes less as water sources getting drier due to drought conditions or perhaps higher water use by establishments and households in the area. But nonetheless, data suggest that the Calamba water district has become the main provider of water supply in the area of Calamba to its concessionaires.
Practices of septic tank construction
The study endeavored to find out the respondents’ practices on discharging grey water as well as use of toilet facility and septic tank construction. The following paragraphs describe the results.
Discharge of grey water
Table 9 shows the practice of the respondents in grey water discharging, which is actually water from washing, bathing, and kitchen sink. There are 57 (38%) who reported that they discharge grey water thru their own septic tank, while 42 (28%) respondents said that they constructed pipe that drains the grey water to the sewer system. Use of pipes is more long lasting and they are impervious to plant roots and used for modern plumbing especially in buildings.
Very few respondents, 28 (18.7 %) use the drainage canal constructed by the municipal government while only 3 respondents mentioned they have a shared
39 septic tank to dispose of their grey water. The responses indicate that practices vary depending on the household conditions or practicality of concessionaires.
Whatever is used, concessionaires are indeed looking for a means in order to properly dispose of grey water in compliance to regulations and standards.
At a micro perspective, there is still a need to improve the quality of water in Calamba, City, alongside the Supreme Court Mandamus and attainment of Millennium Development Goal of 2015. Calamba City is also doing its part in ensuring easy access to safe and potable water. Calamba is now becoming a highly urbanized city and without any septage treatment program, domestic and industrial waste in the area pose a threat to public health of its people.
Table 9. Practices in discharge of grey water
Practices frequency Percent
Owned Septic Tank 57 38.0
Piped Sewer System 42 28.0
Municipal Drainage Canal 28 18.7
Directly to Body of Water 15 10.0
Backyard/ Ground 5 3.3
Shared Septic Tank 3 2.0
Total 150 100.0
Toilet sharing and type of facility
Table 10 presents the number of respondents who reported about their sharing of the toilet facility with others who are not household members either
40 another family, household staying in another abode, a neighbor or close friends within the barangay. It was interesting that ninety percent of them said they are not sharing their toilet with non-members of the household. This practice is commendable inasmuch as such could prevent catching diseases or any other water-borne diseases that might infect the households. Only 15 respondents (10%) share their toilet with non-household members, which could be inferred to be an indication of lesser capability of some families to construct their own toilets at home.
Table 10. Distribution of respondents on toilet facility and sharing Toilet sharing frequency Percent
Sharing of toilet 15 10.0
Not sharing of toilet 135 90.0
Total 150 100.0
Type of toilet facility
Flush to owned septic tank 103 68.7
Flush to piped sewer system 32 21.3
Flush to shared septic tank 11 7.3
Flush to pit latrine 4 2.7
Total 150 100.0
41 As regards the kind of toilet facility that the members of the household use, more than half (68.7 %) of them use the flush to owned septic tank. In the meantime, the least used is the flush to pit latrine as reported by only 4 (2.7%) respondents. It implies that there is a high compliance level among respondents based on standards set for disposing of grey water.
Disposal of grey water
Table 11 shows that more than half 55 (36.7%) have not outlet to dispose of the grey water. At least one-third of the respondents (30.7%) said they use the drainage canal for grey water disposal and a lesser number of respondents (26.7%) are using the soakage pit, which discharges clear and non-harmful water to the ground. The least practice is reported by only two respondents (1.3%) who assert that they discharge grey water directly to the tributaries like rivers. It denotes that the respondents’ practices are somewhat compliant to the ordinances on proper waste water disposal although for some there is lack of knowledge on how grey water should be properly disposed of.
Table 11 Distribution of respondents’ practice of grey water disposal Grey water disposal practice frequency Percent
No outlet or underground 55 36.7
Drainage canal 46 30.7
Soakage pit 40 26.7
Directly to body of water 2 1.3
Others 7 4.7
Total 150 100.0
42 Number of chambers
Table 12 shows the number of chambers in the septic tank of the respondents. More than half (61.3%) reported that their septic tanks in the house have either two or three chambers. The rest said they have one chamber. Data showed that the concessionaires are following the minimum requirement of National Plumbing Code of the Philippines, where residents and establishment owners are only required to have two-chamber septic tanks.
Table 12. Number of chambers and manhole in the septic tank
Number of chambers frequency Percent
Three Chambers 27 18.0
Two Chambers 65 43.3
One Chamber 58 38.7
Total 150 100.0
Presence of manhole
Without manhole 18 12.0
With manhole 132 88.0
Total 150 100.0
In terms of the presence of a manhole, majority (88%) disclosed that they constructed a manhole in their septic tank, which is used for desludging pipe to be inserted. The rest of the respondents (12%) said otherwise. The results simply imply the awareness on value of manhole construction in the septic tank in terms of providing access to carry out inspection, cleaning and
43 removing obstruction in the sewer line as well as repairing of underground pipes.
Location of septic tank
Table 13 presents the location of the septic tank constructed in houses of the concessionaire-respondent. Majority of them (77.3%) asserted that their septic tank can be found outside of the house, which is accessible and can be desludged. Only four (2.7%) said that they constructed the septic tank inside their house or room, which is not accessible and cannot be desludged. It denotes that the location of the septic of most respondents is accessible. And since Calamba Water District plans to set up a project on septage management disposal, it can be safely said that it will easily materialize.
Table 13. The location of the septic tank
Location frequency Percent Inside the house/room. Not accessible, cannot
be desludged
4 2.7
Inside the house/room. Accessible and can be desludged
16 10.7
Outside of the house. Not accessible, cannot be desludged
2 1.3
Outside of the house. Accessible, can be desludged
116 77.3
Others 12 8.0
Total 150 100.0
44 Desludging status of septic tank
Table 14 shows the status of septic tank as reported by the respondent- concessionaires. One-third (32%) of them said that either they “don’t know”
when the last time their septic tank was desludged or “was desludged within the last five years”. Almost a fourth (24.7%) reported their septic tank has never been emptied. It is not clear though when their septic tank was constructed.
As a general rule, the average household septic system should be inspected at least every three years by a septic service professional. Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. Data suggest that there’s quite a need for the concessionaires to be informed about the ideal length of time septic tanks must be desludged.
Table 14. Desludging status of septic tank
Responses frequency Percent Full and new septic tank has been
constructed
5 3.3
Never emptied 37 24.7
Don’t know when was desludged 48 32.0
More than 6 years ago desludged 12 8.0
Within the last 5 years desludged 48 32.0
Total 150 100.0
