Eco-friendly wastewater treatment powder developed by Adamson professor

A professor from Adamson University has developed an eco-friendly way to treat wastewater by using a powder solution that can be also be used in households, according to Martin Javier's "Game Changer" feature on "24 Oras" on Monday.

Developer, Dr. Merlinda Palencia, noted that wastewater comes from 85% domestic sources while 15% are industrial wastewater, so most wastewater comes from households.

“Kung mapapansin nyo, lahat ng eskwelahan dito sa Metro Manila, may estero, at lahat kami namrumrublema sa amoy at dumi ng estero (if you notice, all schools in Metro Manila have an estuary and all of us are having problems with its foul smell and dirt),” Palencia said.

Wastewater comes from human activities such as bathing and laundry.

The Vigormin powder is 100% natural, biogenic and can be used as an ecology friendly wastewater treatment.

“Sa isang buwan maglagay lang ng isang kilo sa kanilang septic tank (households can put 1 kilo of Vigormin powder in their septic tank in one month)," Palencia said.

Palencia explained that some of the Vigormin powder will not totally dissolve when mixed with water.

“Sinadya namin yun. Kaya siya ganyan ang kulay, meron siyang suspended pollution na nasa tubig. Yung hindi nadi-dissolve, kailangan doon siya kakapit para magsettle siya. So, ang nangyayari, yung tubig sa ibabaw, lilinis,” Palencia said.

(We did that on purpose. The water is not fully cleared because there is suspended pollution, which will settle on the undissolved Vigorim powder. So the water on the surface will be clean.)

The Vigormin powder will take effect a few minutes after it is mixed into the murky water.

The wastewater in the septic tank with Vigormin power will undergo several stages before it is fully cleaned.

“Ito po ang preliminary treatment at yung tinatawag na neutralization of PH. So paglipat niya sa second chamber, doon pa siya lalong puputi. And then, paglipat niya doon sa third chamber, yun po ang tinatawag natin tubig na pwede nating pandilig,” Palencia said.

(The preliminary treatment is called neutralization of PH. So, once it is transferred to the second chamber, the water becomes clearer. And then, once it is transferred in the third chamber, the water can be used to water plants.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News