This new device is expected to bolster the company’s efforts in ensuring cleaner and healthier communities by making desludging services more accessible, Manila Water said in a statement.
The portable desludger features a compact 1m³ tank, which can be mounted on a smaller vehicle, making it suitable for navigating narrow streets and elevated terrains. It works in tandem with a larger 10m³ desludging truck, which remains on standby while the portable desludger efficiently collects waste from areas inaccessible to conventional vacuum tankers.
Manila Water is deploying the portable desludger in barangays where logistical challenges have hindered desludging operations. These communities, often located in densely populated urban areas with narrow streets, have long struggled with limited access to proper waste disposal services.
"The development of Manila Water’s newly patented portable desludger exemplifies the company’s ongoing commitment to enhancing sanitation services, particularly in underserved communities," said Jeric Sevilla, Manila Water corporate affairs group director.
By introducing this innovation, Manila Water aims to boost customer participation in desludging services, contributing to better hygiene and public health. The company’s waste management initiatives have already made a significant impact, emptying 129,420 septic tanks in 2024, surpassing the 117,075 tanks serviced in 2023. — Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
