Dionisio, Charisse Elaine V.

ESE194/A1

REACTION PAPER
“Advanced Wastewater Treatment”

On February 23, 2018, a seminar about advance wastewater treatment entitled “Advanced
Wastewater Treatment” was held in Plenary Hall, Mapua University, presented by Engr. Ma.
Victoria Signo. The speaker tackled the how wastewater treatment is done in Baliuag, Bulacan.
Engr. Signo imparted her knowledge about the process of advanced wastewater treatment, from
the wastewater collection, primary and secondary treatments, disinfection, and sludge treatment.
Being environmental and sanitary engineering students, we were encouraged to make steps in
reviving the environment.

Through this seminar, the knowledge of the students were enrich on the proper desludging
and disposal of waste accumulated from septic tanks. The information gathered here is vital as it
provides a culture of awareness to everyone on how wastewater is disposed. Wastewater comes
from everywhere; from our residences to our workplaces, even public places. Filipinos as we are,
have been known to be hygienic yet we know little of what happens when our used water is flushed
to the drain until it is carried off to treatment plants. It is important that as environmental and
sanitary engineering students and concerned citizens, we should have an idea on how the whole
process works and how beneficial and detrimental it is to the people and to our environment.

It is necessary to treat wastewater because the declining quality of fresh water sources
mainly due to pollution leads to shortage in the freshwater supply. Freshwater shortages increase
the risk of public health problems, reduction in food production, and inhibition of industrial
production expansion. All these problems threaten the environment. Inadequately treated domestic
and industrial wastewaters discharged into rivers would not only affect the freshwater in these
areas but also the receiving coastal and sea waters. Eventually coastal resources such as the
mangrove and reef ecosystems, and thereafter .Fisheries would be affected. The discharge of
inadequately treated wastewaters can therefore have far-reaching consequences.