The spreading algal bloom in coastal and lake areas of the country is raising the need for effective wastewater treatment systems with communities leading a concerted effort to make sure that each household is discharging harmless effluents into sewer systems and canals. Ambrocio said that the wastewater being discharged into lakes and the sea apparently still contains toxic nutrients that attracted green algae to Boracay and Laguna de Bay, causing the algal bloom surge. The toxic nutrients phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon are food for green algae, he said.

Ronda, R. A. (2015, June 25). Algal bloom highlights need for wastewater treatment. The Philippine Star, p. B-6.