DoST-7 unveils mobile wastewater treatment plant

The Department of Science and Technology in Central Visayas (DoST-7), in partnership with South Korean and local engineering firms, presented a containerized wastewater treatment system Thursday designed to help hotels, resorts, and commercial establishments in Cebu manage liquid waste and conserve water.

The initiative — launched alongside South Korea-based HifilM Inc., Suki Trading Corp., Vic Metal Fabrication Inc., and the Korea Environmental Professional Engineers Association — uses Membrane Bioreactor technology. The process combines natural biological treatment with microscopic filtration.

Housed inside a 40-foot shipping container in Lapu-Lapu City, the demonstration unit can treat up to 50,000 liters of wastewater daily. Its compact design offers an alternative to conventional treatment plants that require multiple standalone structures and extensive real estate.

The system filters wastewater through a four-stage biological process before passing it through specialized membranes with openings measuring 0.1 micrometers — significantly smaller than the width of a human hair.

The membranes feature a moving mechanism that shifts back and forth to prevent buildup without relying on high-volume air injection.

Provisional field tests conducted in August 2026 showed that treated water met key Philippine environmental discharge standards.