Wawa Dam plan tipped to ease Metro’s water woes

Reynaldo Velasco

Manila Water Co. Inc. on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Prime Metroline Infrastructure Holdings, the proponent of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, to build what water authorities said may be the most immediate solution to the current water shortage in Metro Manila.

Manila Water said the MOU committed both parties to jointly undertake “the possible development of a water supply source east of Metro Manila.”

Reynaldo Velasco, administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), said that aside from the palliative steps that Manila Water and other water concessionaires had undertaken, the new Wawa Dam that tycoon Enrique Razon and builder Oscar Violago planned to build could be the best hope to address the metropolis’ water woes.

Velasco described Wawa Dam in Rizal province—which is expected to produce 520 million liters of raw water daily—as the “immediate alternative water source for the metropolis to provide medium-term water security.”

Longer to build

The other major solution is the controversial Kaliwa Dam in Quezon province, which can provide 600 MLD but may take longer to build.

Manila Water and Prime Metroline have agreed to form a technical team that will conduct a technical due diligence on the Wawa project.

“Based on the recommendations of the technical team, [we] will discuss the possibility of having an offtake arrangement [that] shall be subject to the prior review and approval” of the MWSS, Manila Water said.

On Thursday, water from the tap became available to 96 percent of Manila Water’s customer base—compared to 80 percent last week—“with water supply available from eight to 12 hours, at least at the ground floor level.”

Reservoirs recover

The company said water availability had “significantly improved” since it adopted a rotational scheme for all its customers on March 14, allowing its 28 reservoirs to recover and refill.

Manila Water is also doing technical and network improvements, such as fine-tuning its valving activities, installing line boosters and laying reinforcing lines, particularly in areas located at high elevation and those far from the water source, such as Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong.

“For areas where water availability is still below eight hours, [we continue] to provide water tankering support, such as those at Raja Sumakwel in Upper Bicutan, Taguig; Kawilihan in Bagong Ilog, Pasig; Hulo in Mandaluyong; portions of Kasiglahan Village in San Jose and San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal; portions of Quezon City; Guitnang Bayan in San Mateo and Sitio Halang in Binangonan,” the company said.

“Additional supply coming from various sources has also began augmenting supply,” Manila Water added. “A number of deep wells have also begun operations while 24 (MLD) are produced from the recently commissioned Cardona Water Treatment Plant.”

The company said it expected to have 99 percent of its concession area provided with water, at least on the first floor of homes, but still with rotating service interruptions.

Water supply is expected to get back to normal by June or at the onset of the rainy season, Manila Water said.