AFTER the success of its plant-based wastewater treatment project, the Technological Institute of the Philippines plans to collaborate with more industries and government to address water pollution.

Through its Technopreneurship and Collaborative Applied Research (TechnoCoRe) thrust, TIP is now completing the product and system operations manual for its phyto vortex technology to facilitate its adoption in other sewage treatment facilities.

The system, the first of its kind in the Philippines, integrates phytoremediation, FOG (fat, oil, grease) remover and vortex technologies to eliminate primary and secondary wastes from water sources using reed beds and plants as organic decontaminants.

TIP has been working on the project since 2021. The project is a research collaboration with Subic Water and Sewerage Co., Inc.

The school’s faculty members, students, and consultants from its various engineering programs conducted extensive applied research for the project. They worked together with industry practitioners to design, test and validate the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of the phyto vortex system, TIP Manila Vice President for Academic Affairs Rosalinda Valdepeñas said.

“We hope that the impact of this collaborative endeavor goes beyond the confines of Subic as the phyto vortex system holds immense potential for large-scale application throughout the Philippines,” Valdepeñas said.

A series of design upgrades were done to ensure that the integrated technologies used can successfully treat wastewater in compliance with the Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The project was inaugurated last April 17, 2023 at the CUBI Sewage Treatment Plant of SUBICWATER in Subic, Zambales with officials from the Department of Science and Technology, the Subic Bay Water Regulatory Board, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Ecology Center, SBMA Public Works and Technical Services Group and Morong Water District in attendance.

DOST financed more than half of the estimated P8.3-million total project cost while TIP and SUBICWATER shouldered the rest.