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Marilao Industrial Waste Contamination

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Project Details: Performance Metrics:

Location Bulacan Province, Toxin Arsenic, Lead,

Philippines Cadmium, Chromium
Contaminant Heavy Metal Pollution in Affected 160,452
the River Systems Population
Project Duration 2005—2009

Project Cost $300,000 over four years

Implementing MMO Water Quality

Partners Management Board,
DENR-Environment
Office, Meycauayan
Environment Office

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o Background and Scope:

Heavy metal pollution of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River system (MMORS),
located in the province of Bulacan, Philippines, has caused environmental degradation
and numerous public health problems. The contamination of this waterway comes from
both formal and informal industries, such as used lead acid battery recycling, gold and
precious metals refining, jewelry making, and open dumpsites. Many of these toxic metal
pollutants far exceed national standards and therefore create a significant human health
problem.

The river systems from these municipalities are “hot spots” of water quality. The
emissions and wastes from the industrial processes find their way into the atmosphere,
river system and eventually to fishponds before finally exiting the Manila Bay. The
fishponds form the basis of a thriving aquaculture industry that provides both an
important source of income for coastal families and food for hundreds of thousands of
people in Metro Manila. The likelihood of disease due to heavy metal poisoning
decreases life spans and becomes a serious and widespread threat to public health and
environmental well being.

These conditions in the MMO have spurred Blacksmith Institute to address these
environmental-social concerns. Since 2005, Blacksmith Institute has been organizing
and mobilizing the stakeholder’s group in the area to address the pollution problems in
the river system. It has supported river quality monitoring of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)
Region 3 and NCR to help identify the MMO River System as a non-attainment area
(NAA). This is a requirement to proclaim the MMORS as a Water Quality Management
Area.

o Solution Implemented:
In 2008, Blacksmith received funding to undertake pilot projects for the mitigation and
remediation of industrial pollution, particularly that of heavy metals, and for the
mobilization of the community and local stakeholders to clean up the river system.

Extensive testing to evaluate water quality and worker health was performed to establish
a baseline data set. The tests showed that high levels of toxic heavy metals were found
in all three rivers around Marilao; additionally, they found that contamination of shellfish
and other seafood far exceeded national standards, and that workers were consistently
exposed to hazardous chemicals. Many residents living near tanneries and refiners
attributed health problems such as asthma, tuberculosis, heart disease, and skin
problems and to these industries. Soil samples were also taken from a variety of public
areas to identify hotspots that required immediate treatment.

o Project Performance:
Personal protective equipment, safety education, and regular monitoring were all
recommendations proposed by the study. Educational workshops have been held with
tannery operators and gold refiners, in which best practices to minimize pollution were
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identified. They also recognized that employers like Philippine Recyclers Incorporated
play a significant role in the local economy, and requested that industries take measures
to decrease their pollution. Different technologies are being explored for the remediation
of toxic metals created by the industries: a chrome recovery facility is now in its second
year, a wastewater treatment plant that uses aerobic bioremediation for tannery waste is
completely finished and being used as a model for other tanneries, and a pilot test of a
scrubber that controls air pollution from gold and precious metals refining is currently
being assessed for effectiveness. The local government has agreed to place
contaminated soil in drums for storage in local facilities, but work is still ongoing to find
enough safe locations. The MMORS was formally declared as a Water Quality
Management Area (WQMA) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
on May 14, 2008, seven months ahead of schedule.

o Outcomes and Follow Up:

The clean up and rehabilitation of the MMORS is a challenging and daunting task for all
local and even national stakeholders. Significant improvements in the river quality may
take months and even years. Through the pilot demonstration activity, the building
blocks required for a comprehensive and integrated river system rehabilitation have
been already laid: increased awareness of the heavy metal pollution, showcase of cost-
effective anti-pollution technologies; participation and initial commitment of industry to
control pollution at source; commitment of the multi-stakeholder group for a collective
action for the clean-up and long-term river management and development; baseline data
gathered on the industry practices, community awareness, and health risks.

The next steps likely involve long term funding from the Asian Development Bank, which
is in discussions with the Philippines Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
regarding the project.

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