Fecal coliforms in Pasil waters ‘critically high’

WATER samples taken from around the Pasil Fish Market have revealed critically high levels of fecal coliform, significantly exceeding safety limits.

Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Ccenro) environmental management specialist  Myka Marie Llanos said the results only showed the long-standing issue of untreated wastewater discharging directly into the ocean.

Llanos, citing the result of the December 2024 test, reported a staggering 27 million most probable number (MPN) of fecal coliform per 100 milliliters from four sampling sites around Pasil. 

This is higher than the safe limit of 400 MPN per 100 ml. 

Llanos said only four parameters passed the standards, which include pH (alkalinity or acidity), particle size fraction (PSF), phosphates, and nitrates, while other parameters failed to pass, including the extremely high levels of fecal coliform.

Llanos said the Pasil Fish Market has already been issued with a notice of violation in 2019 due to the similar problem.

Llanos said the test result only showed the urgent need of a treatment facility in the area.

She said due to the extensive fecal coliform contamination, the treatment facility’s scope needs to be larger than initially planned, extending beyond just the Pasil Fish Market. 

“We saw that the fecal coliform level is very high. This means the wastewater treatment shouldn’t focus only there. It needs a larger radius,” Llanos said.

Delay

Ccenro requested an initial budget of P95 million in 2022, however the procurement has not reached yet to the Bids and Awards Committee for bidding.

One of the factors contributing to the delay were the changes in administration. 

Llanos also said there were only movements of the project’s progress after the activation of the Septage Management Board chaired by Ed Karlon Rama.

She said if the water in the area is left untreated, the high level of pollutants will pose risks to both the public health and the environment. 

She said fish species would struggle to survive if the fecal coliform levels remain elevated, correlating with incidents of fish kills in the area.

Llanos also said the upcoming change in city administration might cause further delays of the projects, but was hoping the new leadership will recognize the urgency of establishing the treatment facility to address the severe water pollution in Pasil.  / JPS