The facts are startling: Most studies point to the fact that domestic wastewater is the principal cause of organic pollution (at 48 percent) of our water bodies. Yet, only 3 percent of investments in water supply and sanitation were going to sanitation and sewage treatment.

A recent World Bank report pointed out that Metro Manila was second to the lowest in sewer connections among major cities in Asia at less than 7 percent, compared to 20 percent for Katmandu, Nepal and 30 percent for Dhaka, Bangladesh.

With all the risk factors that may develop with unsafe water, the implementation of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275) is imperative – and yet compliance is low. Despite fines of up to P200,000, it is estimated that almost 70 percent of businesses in Metro Manila may have to be shut down if compliance with the Clean Water Act would be strictly monitored.

There is also an increasing need to manage water consumption in the country. Recent floods have brought home the fact that water and sewerage systems in the metropolitan areas have become severely overtaxed.

With climate change creating questions about future water supply for our communities, and with water rates increasing by an average of 22 percent this year, there is no better time for the business, industrial and government sectors to act on both the water conservation and water treatment problems than now.

To this end, Falcon Waterfree Phils., Inc and First Envirotech Corporation have joined forces to make safe, environment-friendly, and economically-sound solutions to the problem of clean water management and Clean Water compliance a more attainable goal for leaders of the business, industrial, and government communities.