Installation of Water Filtration and Refurbishment of Water Storage of

the Aeta Community of Sitio Camias, Porac, Pampanga

Aguilar, Rogera; Celis, Olivera; Cunanan, Armiel Ruzena; Casupanan, John Philipa; Cunanan, Jude
Kaypeea; Garcia, Martin Rolanda; Gestopa, Edmon Johna; Gopez, Angela; Lusung, Mary Janea;
Manarang; Nicholsa; Manicdao, Lowella; Perez, Kervin Randoa; Roque III, Kevin Thomasa; Limos,
Katrinaa; Sancho, Krisha Concepciona; Santos, Alfreda; Regala, Jun Carloa; and Villarica, Ernestoa
Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Our Lady of Fatima University, Pampanga Campus,
dela Paz Norte, City of San Fernando, Pampangaa
Email: occelis@fatima.edu.ph

RATIONALE
Availability and quality of water are some of the major problems of our society today. Some rural areas for
example are having problems in terms of the quality and quantity of potable water supply, one of those rural
areas is the Aeta Community of Sitio Camias in Porac, Pampanga. Although the water facility have been
previously rehabilitated by the College of Engineering of Our Lady of Fatima in 2018, the 2019 condition of the
water facility showed several problems which generally rooted from poor to lack of maintenance procedure
implemented by the community. In order to provide better community involvement and continued support, the
college went back to the community and did the refurbishment of main water storage tank and installation of
water filtration system.

OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the researchers was to determine the current status of the water distribution facility which
will include physical condition, water quality, condition of pipelines, and the implemented maintenance
procedure and to provide solutions to problems associated with the present condition of the facility. Lastly, the
researcher aimed to conduct community orientation program with respect to proper maintenance of the water
distribution facility.

METHODOLOGY
The researchers utilized the combination of descriptive and experimental type of research in this study. An ocular
visit was conducted to evaluate the present condition of the water facility which include the pipeline.
Experimental method was used for the installed water filtration system. Water testing was conducted by a local
laboratory in Angeles City, Pampanga. The same laboratory facility helped the researchers in the design of
installed filtration system in order to meet the water quality standard. The researcher together with the local
government of Porac Pampanga provided the necessary financial support for the community extension project.

RESULTS
The researchers was able to refurbished the water storage tanks, replaced damage pipelines, installed water
filtration system and conducted orientation program on proper maintenance of the facility. Based on survey, the
local community was happy with rehabilitation and extension project conducted by the researchers.

CONCLUSION
After the completion of the research extension project, it can be concluded that, the true essence of education and
learnings can be shown by applying the acquired knowledge, putting them into action in helping those who are
in need, especially those people or community who doesn’t have the ways and means to improve their lives.

KEYWORDS
Community extension project, social responsibility, sustainable community, sustainable development goal, Aeta
community.
1. INTRODUCTION Table 1. Statistical Data Collected from January to
Civil Engineering is a profession that applies the basic August of 2018 Pertaining to Food and Waterborne
Diseases
principles of science in conjunction with
mathematical and computational tools to solve %
Food/Water 2018 2017
Difference
problems associated with developing and sustaining Borne-
CFR *2018 VS
civilized life on our planet (CHED CMO 92 s2017). Diseases Cases Deaths Cases
(%) 2017
Developing and sustaining civilized life includes
being aware of the problem and extending help to Acute
Bloody 12,435 15 0.12 14,332 13↓
those in need.
Diarrhoea
In line with Our Lady of Fatima University
College of Engineering’s mission of producing Confirmed
4 0 0.00 119 97↓
competent, self-driven, and excellent future leaders Cholera
imbued with outstanding moral values, social
awareness and aspirations for the nation; the college Confirmed
508 0 0.00 1222 58↓
Rotavirus
identifies several research and extension projects that
addresses the need of its immediate community as
Hepatitis A 231 0 0.00 358 35↓
part of its social awareness and community
involvement program. One the communities chosen Typhoid
by the college is the Aeta Community of Sitio Camias 12,905 22 0.17 16,469 22↓
Fever
(shown in Figure 1), in Porac Pampanga.
Source: Department of Health: Food and Waterborne Diseases
Monthly Report from January to July 2018

2. METHODS
The researchers aim to conduct a research and
extension project for the Aeta Community of Sitio
Camias of Porac Pampanga through refurbishment of
main water storage tank and installation of water
filtration system. The initial activity conducted by the
researchers is to check the current status of the facility
in order to identify the corrective measures to be used.

2.1. Water Storage

Figure 1. Locality Map of Sitio Camias, Porac,
Pampanga 2.1.1. Bulk Storage Tank
Based on site visit, the researcher found out that the
Based on the ocular survey conducted by the interior of the main water storage or the bulk storage
researchers last January 2019, the Aeta Community tank was filled dirty water, foreign materials such as
of Sitio Camias in Porac Pampanga’s main source of dried leaves and dead animals and insects. In addition
water is the mountain spring. The water distribution the walls were mostly covered with molds as shown
facility was rehabilitated by the college way back in Figure 2.
January of 2018 through a research-extension project
but after a year, the lack of implementation of proper
maintenance procedure made the rehabilitation
useless. Dirty interior main storage tanks, broken
pipelines, and poor to bad quality of drinking water
faced the researchers. As a result, the community had
no choice but to have a contaminated water which
causes water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, and
amoebiasis.
In 2018, the Department of Health (DOH) released
a statistical data collected from January to August of
2018 related to food and water-borne diseases as
shown in Table 1. The diseases typically causes
gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The mode of
transmission is fecal-oral route. Figure 2. Inside of bulk storage tank
2.1.2. Manhole Cover of the Bulk Storage 2.2. Water Quality
The design of bulk storage tank’s concrete cover as The quality of water that comes from the storage is
shown in Figure 3 is not appropriate to maintain clean undoubtedly not suitable as potable water as shown in
interior of the tank and exclude foreign materials. The Figure 6. The water is silty and clayey in nature and
manhole cover is a three dimensional trapezoid shape has foul odor.
having a dimension of 1.50 meters in length, 0.90
meters base 1, 0.60 meters base 2 and a thickness of
0.20 meters . The foreign materials and water were
able to enter the interior of the tank.

Figure 6. Water quality inside the bulk storage

2.3. Water Pipe System

Figure 3. Manhole Cover of the Bulk Storage Based on random interview in the community it was
found out the community themselves were
2.1.3. Uphill Water Storage responsible for the damages in the pipeline which
The condition of the uphill storage tank or catchment leads to poor amount of water in the storage tanks as
tank is far worse than the bulk storage tank as shown shown in Figure 7.
in Figure 4 and 5. It is severely damaged with its
cover already fallen inside the tank. The interior of
tank is full of foreign materials and water is highly
contaminated.

Figure 4. Uphill Storage Tank

Figure 7. Existing Connection of the Water Pipeline

2.4. Pipeline Connected to the Bulk Storage

The existing water pipeline connected to the bulk
storage is inclined making water difficult to enter the
tank. The slope of the tank was not observed during
initial construction of the water facility as shown in
Figure 8.
Figure 5. Uphill Manhole Cover
 Figure 8. Water Pipe Line Connected to the Bulk Figure 10. Draining of Water from the Bulk Storage
Storage Tank

2.5. Quantity of Water After the application of concrete sealant on the tank
Based on site observation of the current condition of walls, the researcher let it dried and temporarily
the pipeline and storage tanks, the water quality is covered the entrance of the tank to avoid foreign
really poor and not suitable for drinking which is very matters in the tank. As shown in Figure 11
important thing for the community. The water
condition can lead to several problem with the health
and wellness of the community.

2.6. Maintenance Applied by the Community

According to the barangay captain of Sitio Camias,
Hon. Reggie Abuque, nobody from the community
was assigned to do the preventive maintenance on
water storage and water pipeline. The community
made individual pipeline connection to the bulk
storage tank and uphill tank. In addition, more
pipeline damages were caused by the community.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

After the verification of the current status of the Figure 11. After application of concrete sealant on tank
community’s water distribution facilities, the walls
researchers made applicable solutions for every
problem that have been encountered. The scope of 3.1.2. Replacing Bulk Manhole Cover
work made and presented to the community, in After refurbishing the bulk storage tank, the tank’s
addition the local government of Porac was also part manhole cover was replaced with a new one, and
the project since they provided financial assistance to manhole entrance was repaired in a manner that water
the community for the rehabilitation of the facility. will not be able to enter during rainy season as shown
in Figure 12. There is a protrusion in the manhole
3.1. Refurbishment of Water Storage entrance and the manhole cover overlaps it to prevent
water and foreign materials from entering the tank
leaving it clean than before.
3.1.1. Refurbishing of Bulk Storage
The researchers together with volunteers from the
community emptied the water inside the bulk storage
tank for them to be able to clean the entire walls and
floors of the tank as shown in Figure 10. After
cleaning the walls and floor of the tank, the
researchers then applied cementatious water proofing
to seal the cracks present on the walls of the tank.

Figure 12. New Manhole Cover of Bulk Storage

3.1.3. Refurbishment of Uphill Water Storage
and Installation of New Manhole Cover
The refurbishment of the uphill tank was the same as
the procedure used in the refurbishment of the bulk
storage tank, the tank was dewatered, interior walls
and floor were cleaned, applied cementous materials
for the cracks, manhole entrance was repaired and
manhole cover was replaced with a new one as shown
in Figure 13.
Figure 13. Retrofitted Manhole Lid with Zucalo
3.2. Installation of Water Filtration System
Since the water quality is poor and not potable, the
researcher made a water filtering system to improve
the water quality from the storage tanks. The design
of the filtering system was based on the
recommendation from the third party laboratory in
Angeles, Pampanga. In order to ensure the quality of
the filtering system, several steps have been followed.
3.2.1. Backwashing of Aggregates
Backwashing of fine aggregates was conducted to
remove the dirt or dust from the materials to be used
for filtration as shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14. Backwashed Aggregates
3.2.2. Laying of Aggregates
The procedures for the installation of filtration system
included, selection of all materials needed for the
water filtration system as shown in Figure 15. The
quality of water after installation will be verified by a
third party laboratory.
Figure15. Prototype of Water Filtration System
3.2.3. Installed Water Filtration System
After the assembly of the filtration system, it was then
installed at the storage tanks as shown in Figure 16.
Based on actual observation, the physical quality of
water was better than before.
Figure 16: Filtered Water from the Installed
Water Filtration
3.2.4. Result of Water Quality Test
After seven working days, water test result was
received. The result showed that the filtered water still
didn’t achieved the standards of PNSWD but there
were improvements on the quality of the water. From
the result given by F.A.S.T Laboratories, the treated
water’s facal coliform improved from 8.0 MPN to 4.6
MPN but is not within acceptable value. The E.Coli
content of the treated water was eliminated. The
researchers took a second opinion on ECHEM
Environmental Testing Laboratory for the result of
the treated water. The consultant agreed with the
parameters taken by the previous testing laboratory.
The consultant suggested to do more back washing of
the sand used in the filter, and inclusion of more
activated carbons.
3.3. Improvement of Water Pipe System
The replacement of ½” diameter pipe by 1 ½”
diameter HDPE pipe with a length of 60 meters was
laid in a new route that connects the uphill storage
tank with an elevation of 18.6 meters above the bulk
storage tank as shown in Figure 17. The new installed
pipe will provide better flow of water because of its
larger diameter.
3.4. Improvement of Volume of Water
Generated from the Spring
The improvement in the volume of water generated
by the spring was based on the refurbishment of the
storage tanks and replacement of damaged water
pipeline. Sealing all cracks on the storage tank walls
and replacement of damaged pipeline generally
contributed to higher volume of water in the tanks In
addition the amount of water will also depend on the
season where precipitation is high.
According to Brgy. Captain Reggie Abuque,
monitoring of water storage is based on the rainfall
forecast from PAGASA. The spring is generating
water based the water content of the soil on its
premises. Figure 19 shows the graph of average
monthly rainfall for Philippines from 1991-2015 in
millimetres.

Figure 17. Lying of HDPE Pipe

Source: Climate Change Knowledge Portal
3.3.1. Improvement of New Water Pipeline Figure 19: Average Monthly Rainfall for Philippines
In order to determine the degree of improvement the
new water pipeline, the researchers made a simple test Table 2. Hourly Testing of Discharge from the Spring
that uses a 200ml graduated beaker filled with water Hour 25 Nov ‘18 8 Feb ‘19 9 Feb
as shown in Figure 18. The water was poured in one (m3/hr) ‘19
end of the old pipeline and collected the water on the (m3/hr) (m3/hr)
other end and measured the time of travel of water one
0000 - - 0.290
end to the other. To determine the head losses, the 0100 - - 0.310
researchers used a dropper and placed the water into 0200 - - -
the beaker. The test shows a 12ml to 15ml head loss 0300 - - -
after the test. The same test was conducted for the new 0400 - - -
pipeline. After the test, the new pipeline exhibit no 0500 - - 0.020
0600 - - 0.015
head losses. 0700 0.062 0.024 0.030
0800 0.056 0.012 0.010
0900 0.100 0.040 0.045
1000 0.088 0.025 0.035
1100 0.063 0.020 0.030
1200 0.058 0.063 0.060
1300 0.094 0.084 0.075
1400 0.067 0.045 0.040
1500 0.060 0.027 0.035
1600 0.056 0.067 0.074
1700 0.087 0.072 0.070
1800 0.102 0.040 0.055
1900 - 0.135 0.160
2000 - 0.120 0.135
2100 - 0.335 0.315
2200 - 0.250 0.240
Figure 18. Head Loss Testing 2300 - 0.360 0.335
2400 - 0.225 0.220
Average 0.074 0.108 0.124
 In addition, statistics shows the rainfall forecast
for the region of Porac, Pampanga. Based on the data,
the storage can be filled in a shorter period of time
from the month of June to December. Table 2 shows
the gathered data from the hourly discharge of the
sour.
Based on Table 2, the first testing was conducted
when the researchers first visited the site on
November 25, 2018 and the time of testing was 7am
to 6pm. The first testing produced water quantity of
0.074 m3/hr while the second and third testing
conducted from February 08 to 09, 2019 were 0.043
m3/hr and 0.0599 m3/hr respectively.
3.5. Maintenance Procedure to be
implemented by the Community
After the completion of the rehabilitation of water
facility, the researchers conducted community
seminar on the proper maintenance of the facility.
Barangay officials, a representative from local
government of Porac and representatives from OLFU
were present during the event.
13425369/how-to-build-a-spring-water-collection-
system>.
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Aquifers, and Ponds).
[9] Savic D. (2011). Water Distribution System. Spring
(Hydrology) retrieved from January 2018.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_(hydrology)>.
[10] Spring Water Collection System. Retrieved January
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Collection-System.
[11] Water Distribution System Challenges and Solutions.
Retrieved February 2018. < https://www.water
online.com/doc/water-distribution-system-challenges-
and-solutions-0001>.
[12] What is Spring Water and how is it safe? Retrieved
December 2017. <https://www.freedrinkingwater.
com/water quality/quality1/1-define-spring-water-why-
safe.htm>.
.

4. CONCLUSION
Based on the result of the study, the researchers
concluded that Sitio Camias’ water facility should be
rehabilitated. Rehabilitation included the following,
refurbishment of storage tanks (bulk and uphill),
repair of interior walls and floor of tanks, replacement
of damaged pipelines, and installation of water
filtering system. Although a great improvement was
achieved for using installed filtering system, a
commercially available filtering system against
manually built system would likely improve the
quality of water based on acceptable standards for
potable water. Lastly a cooperation among institution,
local community, and local government proved that
any problem be solved through cooperation, unity,
understanding, and genuine care for the immediate
community.

REFERENCES
[1] Barangay Hall, Barangay Camias, Porac. Retrieved
December 2017. <http://ph.geoview.info/barangay_
hall_brgy_camias_porac,1440026589n>.
[2] Commonly Asked Questions about springs. Retrieved
January 2018. http://www.health.state.mn.us/
divs/eh/wells/waterquality/springs.html.
[3] Das, B. (2009). Hydrology and Soil Conservation
Engineering.
[4] Das, B. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. 7 th ed.
[5] Difference of Well Water and Spring Water. Retrieved
December 2017. <https://www.leaf.tv/articles/
difference -between-well-water-spring-water/>.
[6] How to Build a Spring Water Catchment Overview.
Retrieved January 2018. http://www.survivalland
usa.com/How-To-Build-A-Spring-Water-
Catchment.html.
[7] How to Build a Spring Water Collection System.
Retrieved February 2018. <https://www. hunker.com/

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