DENR notes lower coliform level in Manila Bay

There is an improvement in the quality of water in Manila Bay as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) underscored that the coliform level has decreased but a ban remains on swimming in the area.

“Following almost four years of rehabilitation efforts, the so-called “Battle for Manila Bay” resulted in significant improvement in the water quality within the bay region as shown by the gradual decrease in fecal coliform level since January 2019,” the DENR said in a statement.

In a report by Dano Tingcungco on “24 Oras,” as of October 2022, the fecal coliform level in the National Capital Region (NCR) went down to 51,300 most probable number per 100 milliliters (MPN/100mL) from a high of 126,000 MPN/100mL in 2019.

Significant decreases in coliform levels were also recorded in other areas within Manila Bay.

The report also mentioned that the coliform level in the famous Manila Baywalk area has significantly decreased to 658,000 MPN/100mL from a high of 5.75 million MPN/100mL.

The lower coliform level is attributed to four years of rehabilitation efforts that include monitoring of establishments in the area, proper garbage collection, resettlement and planting of mangroves.

In addition, two of the seven projects at the Manila Baywalk area are 100% complete, including the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and Solar Powered Restroom, while other projects are at 83-96% progress.

“At the Libertad Channel, which is also a hotspot in water pollution, dredging activities were completed while a solar-powered STP with a capacity of 10 million liters per day is already built and only awaiting commissioning,” DENR added.

The fecal coliform level in Manila Bay is at 51,530 mpn/100ml and 658,00 mpn/100ml at the Dolomite Beach. The public is still banned from swimming in these places.

The figures are a far cry from water quality standard for a body of water that is suitable for swimming, which is 100 mpn/100ml. -- Sherylin Untalan/BAP, GMA Integrated News