Annually, the Philippines experiences a financial loss of approximately US$260 million due to inadequately treated wastewater, according to a recent report.

In a bid to combat wastewater pollution and safeguard public health and water security, various solutions are being proposed. The report, spearheaded by the organization Frontier Economics in collaboration with The Economist and The Nippon Foundation, emphasizes the importance of improved water treatment and conservation.

One innovative approach suggested is the repurposing of sludge from wastewater. This sludge can be used as organic fertiliser to prevent soil erosion, support plant growth, and even produce biogas. This not only addresses environmental concerns but also offers potential economic benefits.

The Philippines' fishing sector is currently suffering losses of at least US$9 million annually due to contaminated fish populations. Similarly, the health sector spends over US$19 million annually due to poor sewage treatment, with three million people exposed to contaminated drinking water, leading to diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid.

To address these issues, the Manila Water Company aims to connect all households in its region to sewers connected to treatment plants by 2037. Since 1997, the company has already built 40 new treatment plants, expanding its treatment capacity from 40 million litres per day to 410 million.

However, the report highlights the need for continued investment in infrastructure maintenance and resilience for long-term cost reduction in wastewater treatment. The Philippines currently treats 67% of its wastewater, one of the highest rates in a study that surveyed the United Kingdom, Brazil, India, and Kenya.

The agriculture sector, comprising nearly 90% of the loss, is the sector most affected by domestic wastewater pollution. The Philippines loses about US$228 million annually from this pollution, with US$127 million spent on wastage of sugarcane, US$83 million in corn, and US$17 million in ruined rice plants.

The use of water-intensive crops such as sugarcane and rice, combined with wastewater irrigation in agriculture, especially in low-income countries due to water scarcity, further exacerbates these losses. Wastewater irrigation can contain heavy metals such as zinc, chromium, manganese, and iron, which are toxic to humans.

In poorer regions, around 10% of agricultural land is irrigated using raw or partially treated wastewater. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems may be implemented in these areas to compensate for populations not all connected to a sewer, such as in Kenya.

The study notes that while progress in wastewater treatment in the Philippines is remarkable, continued investment in infrastructure maintenance and resilience is necessary for long-term cost reduction. The report also states that poor sewage treatment in the Philippines is costing the economy almost US$260 million per year, a figure that underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.

The intensified losses in the Philippines' economy, similar to the UK, are due not only to contaminated water but also to high crop prices, as both countries are relatively big importers of food products. The Philippines loses about US$228 million annually from domestic wastewater pollution, a significant portion of which could be saved through proper wastewater treatment and conservation.

In conclusion, addressing wastewater pollution in the Philippines is a multi-faceted challenge that requires concerted efforts from various sectors. By implementing solutions such as improved water treatment, conservation, and the repurposing of sludge, the country can make strides towards a more sustainable and secure water future.