I.

Treatment Processes of Water

A. Desalination
Desalination is the turning of saline water to fresh water by means of reverse osmosis or
distillation. This process requires more energy than those of local surface water in treating water,
and are usually only used in coastal areas or where water such as groundwater has high salinity.

B. Water Softeners
This process is used to reduce the hardness of water. It usually uses sodium or potassium ions
to replace calcium and magnesium ions which creates “hardness”

C. pH Correction
In order to minimize the corrosion in the distribution system of water, Lime is added to the
filtered water to adjust the pH and stabilize the naturally softness of water.

D. Fluoridation
Treatment of water supplies for adjusting the concentration of free fluoride ion to the
optimum level sufficient to reduce dental caries. Water is required to fluoridate water in
accordance with the NSW Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957.

E. Sludge Drying
Solids that are collected and settled out of the water by sedimentation and filtration are
removed to drying lagoons.

F. Disinfection
Water is disinfected to ensure that any disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites are
destroyed. Chlorine is used because it is a very effective disinfectant, and residual concentrations
can be maintained to guard against possible biological contamination in the water.

G. Filtration
Water flows through a filter designed to remove all unwanted particles present in the water.
Typically, filters were made of layers of sand and gravel, and in some cases, crushed anthracite.
It collects the suspended impurities in water and enhances the effectiveness of disinfection.
Filters are cleaned by backwashing.

H. Sedimentation
In treatment process where the water and the floc particles move into sedimentation basins,
the water moves slowly causing the heavy floc particles to settle to the bottom called sludge.
This sludge was piped to drying lagoons. In Direct Filtration, the sedimentation step is not
included, and the floc is removed by filtration only.
I. Coagulation / Flocculation
During coagulation, liquid aluminum sulfate and/or polymer is added to untreated water
causes the tiny particles of dirt in the water to stick together or coagulate. Groups of dirt particles
stick together to form larger, heavier particles called flocs which are easier to remove by settling
or filtration.

J. Aeration
Process of bringing water and air into close contact in order to remove dissolved gases, such
as carbon dioxide, and to oxidize dissolve metals such as iron. It can also be used to remove
volatile organic chemicals (VOC) in the water.

II. The Salintubig Program (Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat)

The water supply and sanitation situation in the Philippines, to say is not that good. With
332 dated municipalities continue to be waterless in December 2015, less than 50% have piped
water onto premises and the majority of it are concentrated in urban areas, and only 87.7% have
access to water based on the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA). Due to poor governance,
limited access to finance, and affordability, the sanitation situation is also no better. Around 4.43
million still defecate in the open, around 74% of households connected to onsite or offsite
treatment and are considered safely managed. Due to this situation, the government then devise a
program that will help the water supply and sanitation situation in the Philippines.

The Salintubig Program is a convergence program implemented jointly by the

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Anti-Poverty Commission
(NAPC), Department of Health (DOH), and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA),
where the leading executing agency is the DILG. The DILG entered into a Memorandum of
Agreement with DOH and NAPC for the implementation of the Provision for Water Supply or
also known as the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat (Salintubig). The said program is a
pro-poor initiative designed to provide water supply systems with the priority given to the 455
waterless and thematic areas (1,353 waterless barangays, resettlement sites and RHUs). The
Salintubig Program does not only provide financial subsidy for infrastructure, but this program
also focuses on the provision of the Capacity Development for Local Government Units (LGUs)
and water service providers to plan, implement, manage and maintain the water supply facilities
to ensure sustainability.

The Salintubig Program like any other program has its own objectives to fulfill. First is to
reduce the incidence of water-borne and sanitation-related diseases. The second is to increase the
water supply coverage for the waterless population up to 50%. Next is to improve the access of
the people with insufficient funds or money to sanitation services. The last objective is to sustain
operation and management of all the water supply facilities constructed and supported by the
Salintubig Program.
The Salintubig Program started at a budget allocation of 770 million and a beneficiary of
139,620 households with a 698,100 population. Last 2019, the program now houses a beneficiary
of 232,446 households with 1,162,231 population and a 1,549.64 milllion budget. As of March
31, 2019, the total sub-projects of the program are 2,280 with 1,473 completed sub-projects, 515
ongoing sub-projects, 122 sub-projects under procurement, 131 sub-projects for DED
preparation and 39 sub-projects under preparation. Also, the total number of waterless
municipalities of 455 has decreased by 67%, with 25% below 50% access and 7% waterless
municipalities proposed for 2020. The total number of waterless barangays also has decreased
with 88%, with 12% below the 50% access.