In response to concerns regarding clean water and sanitation availability, the Central Facilities Management Office (CFMO) of the Ateneo de Manila University has set several guidelines outlining the proper use, monitoring, management, and disposal of water in the university.
Together with the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS), the university stresses the significance of building water treatment systems through the Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) and Building Wastewater Treatment Systems (BWATS), while, above all, maximizing recyclable wastewater and rainwater through detention ponds, harvesting facilities, and overall natural, sustainable, and environmentally friendly methods.
Ateneo’s sustainability guidelines emphasize the importance of information, education, and communication (IEC) programs for stakeholders, administrative support, and inter-unit communication with regards to water usage and subsequent reusage. Furthermore, reuse of water is given top priority and must be used for irrigation before being released.
In line with this, CFMO of Ateneo de Manila University sought to build a filtration system to be used for reusing and recycling creek water behind the Loyola Schools swimming pool. Wasted water is drawn from the continuous flow of water and constant flow from the swimming pool drains. The facility provides for segments of concrete gates that are used to hold used water; a water pump is also installed along with tanks to ensure faster and more accessible transfer of used water.