Is Solar Water Desalination a viable solution in the Philippines?
As the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) develops a handful of short-, medium-, and long-term water source projects to meet the growing water needs of Metro Manila, domestic, commercial, and industrial water-treatment technologies are on the rise.
Solar Water Desalination is one of these emerging technologies. Through desalination, mineral components are extracted from saltwater or saline water to produce fresh drinking water or tap water.
In a statement, MWSS says the government is open to all new technology when it comes to water management. However, MWSS chief regulator Patrick Ty stated that we must consider the prices.
Apparently, developing Solar Water Desalination facilities to deliver water to Metro Manila customers would incur greater expenditures. Ty added that we must keep in mind that we are a third-world country, lacking the resources of countries such as Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Based on MWSS’ research, the findings indicate that desalinated water would remain prohibitively costly for the average Filipino household. That is the most significant opposition the government agency is now seeing. Ty said that the government is continuing to investigate other water supplies, including treatment alternatives for water from Laguna Lake.
If the country’s capital ever adopts Solar Water Desalination, Ty said that it will be limited to Metro Manila’s West Zone service area, which is a concession region for Maynilad Water Services Inc. Because the western half is exposed to the sea, they are in a more advantageous situation – which they are now inspecting. and they’re watching to see if the price drops drastically.
While Metro Manila is unlikely to implement Solar Water Desalination at the time, Ty believes that other parts of the country, notably Cebu, may be better equipped to do so. He said that Cebu has a sizable population and the buying power to pay, thus, it may begin in Cebu before spreading to Metro Manila.
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