Wastewater Treatment Plants
Among the current facilities being operated by MWCI, only the Magallanes WWTP produces digested
and dried sludge. Primary sludge and wasted activated sludge is currently being conveyed to two
anaerobic digesters for stabilisation prior to dewatering in drying beds. These are bagged and stored
under covered areas within the WWTP site.
MWCI trucks the dried sludge in 25 kg sacks to Porac, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija for distribution to
farmers. The farmers use these as soil conditioner for agricultural lands. No information on application
practices was available during the study. Average disposal rate to Porac and Nueva Ecija is 350 and
500 bags respectively per 3 months. MWCI has direct operational control only on the trucking of the
sludge to the site.
According to the WWTP operators, dried sludge is also being collected by various entities for land
application. However, there are no formal agreements with any of the entities for the hauling and reuse
of the dried sludge. Third party collector of Magallanes dried sludge includes:
?? Manila Fertilizer. It is understood that the sludge is being mixed with fertilizer products and sold.
Manila Fertilizer sludge collection is on a seasonal basis.
?? Farmers from Tarlac province haul dried sludge for application to agricultural lands.
?? Makati City and other nearby local government units (LGUs). It is assumed that the sludge is used for
urban amenities, i.e. landscaping purposes.
?? Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) land development projects. Assumed to reuse the sludge for landscaping.