GAVINO, Regina B.

ECE II ENV20 A13

11 September 2012 Prof. D. Bernabe Reaction Paper

Introduction to Environmental Engineerings Plant Visit: Metro Clarks Sanitary Landfill and Natures Spring Water Treatment Plant

30 August 2012 Plant Visit for all environmental science classes of quarter one of the academic year 2012-2013 was organized by the four professors, Mr Ngo, Mr Bernabe, Mrs Aquino and Ms Eleazar. There were six buses and eight sections that participated. The call time was 6:30 AM but unfortunately left the school around 8:00 AM. The first itinerary was Metro Clarks Sanitary Landfill at Tarlac. The buses made a stopover at the Lakehouse where other students changed into their plant visit class shirts. Some who were on improper attire were asked to change into closed shoes and jeans. The buses arrived in the landfill area around twelve in the afternoon. The students were first oriented batch by batch about the landfill. Then, we headed into the landfill site itself which looked like an artificial mountain, which we later found out contains garbage in the middle part and covered with soil. On our way down the literally mountain of garbage, we saw where the leachate are and the flaming tower where the methane gases are burned. We then headed into the recycling area, where people actually scavenge for something useful. We found out that they are also selling slippers made from recycled trash. The last stop in the site was a house made from recycled materials. We left the site around past one in the afternoon, and our bus headed to Pulilan, Bulacan for lunch. We knew later on that we were divided into two groups: us heading to Nature Spring and the other for Smart Shirts. We reached Chicboy Pulilan around past two in the afternoon, and with no time wasted, grabbed our chicken inasal and filled our agonizing tummies. We left there around three, and headed to Nature Spring near Marilao, Bulacan. Before going off the bus, we were asked to watch an advertisement video of Nature Spring about the technologies they used in their water treatment, the latest innovations, new products and the back story behind its foundation. We were guided by someone from Nature Spring in our travel inside their plant. We first headed to where the containers were made, and found out that they actually came from a tiny piece of plastic and expands only to become a larger container through heat. We saw how the disposable water containers called bubble (or some sort) are made and filled in. We then went to the area where they store the water. Theres a specific tank for distilled water, mineral water, water for cleaning and maintenance, and untreated water. After which, we headed where bottled water are made, and saw that machines do the actual filling of the water but people manually put the labels and

store them in boxes. The last stop was where five gallon water container are being cleaned, treated and filled in. It was machine operated, but theres a manual labourer checking for quality control. We bought water before we left, and a souvenir lanyard specially designed for bottles. We left the plant around five in the afternoon, and surprisingly reached school at six in the evening. It had been a truly educational experience for me. Being a future engineer, and also being part of the future of the next generation, I think that it is really our duty and responsibility to make the world a better place as engineers and at the same time, taking care of it being human beings. It alarmed me that the level of toxic gases on our atmosphere is very high already. I think that is where the engineering aspect has to come in. I know a lot of things are made possible because there are engineers all over the world and in every different aspect. A large amount of these greenhouse gases came from factories, and they are as we all know, handled by engineers. It will be such a shame if it became ironic that engineers try so hard in industrializing and uplifting the standards of living, and at the same time, contributing to the degradation of our environment. We should also took consider the consequences of the littlest things that we do, because if theres one thing I learned from this trip, its that IT MATTERS. I truly liked the visions of the administrations of Metro Clark Sanitary Landfill. I liked how it kept on dreaming for something that will truly help one of the dilemmas in our country. I liked that it has continuously aspires for a better system, how they managed to be independent from the Germans, and how they all do these efforts for our country. It not only shows how they are truly dedicated with their careers but also their love for our country and for nature. I hope all engineers will be like that, and not only focus on the money thing. Like MCSL, Natures Springs foundation is for the benefit of other people. I like when something advocates for good and not all money matters because it help preserve the quality and you can actually see the passion of engineers and other professionals working on it. In totality, the trip not only made me aware of how complex and delicate engineering is, but also opens my eyes to the real goal of this profession that is to make the world a better place for everyone. It made me realize all the soon-to-be responsibilities that we all have to fill in once we get into the real world. And its nice to finally be oriented when were this young, so in the future, we will be guided accordingly.