The undated photo shows the Balara Treatment Plant 2, which treats 75% of Manila Water’s total water production. In coordination with Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and National Water Resources Board, other national government agencies, and local government units, Manila Water ensures the availability of water for its customers during summer. Its programs include the maximization of key treatment plants, backwash water recovery, and harnessing other water augmentation sources. Contributed photo
Supporting the call from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to ensure water supply during the dry months, Manila Water has begun implementing measures to maximize production of its treatments plants and water sources, as it prepares for the expected increase in demand in summer.
The water concessionaire started carrying out initiatives to meet demand while ensuring adequate water supply reserves for its 7.4 million customers in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal.
In January this year, Manila Water inaugurated the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 in Quezon City (NBAQ 4). This massive aqueduct is designed to convey up to 1,000 million liters of water per day to ensure reliability of water supply in the East Zone.
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While majority of the raw water supply still comes from Angat Dam, Manila Water also undertook operational adjustments in its Cardona Water Treatment Plant in Rizal to maximize daily water treatment capacity and supply high quality water to residents of several towns of Rizal Province. Currently, the plant treats an average of 106.2 million liters per day (MLD), which is a 30.9-MLD increase from last year’s 75.24 MLD average.
The two water treatment plants in Balara, Quezon City have also maximized its backwash recovery program which involves re-treating the byproduct of the water treatment process. The program has resulted to the plant treating an average of 24.7 MLD for January-February 2023. This is a 13-MLD increase from 11.6 MLD for the same period last year.
On top of the regular and preventive maintenance activities of Manila Water to ensure that water conveyances and facilities will be fully functional, the company also aggressively pursues reduction in water losses or non-revenue water through immediate repair of leaks and rehabilitation of pipes. Water losses averaged at a low level of 12.69% in 2022.
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As water security and service reliability are major sustainability pillars of its service improvement program, the water company has also lined up additional water sources such as the Marikina River through the 20-MLD Marikina Portable Water Treatment Plant and the newly rehabilitated Wawa Dam through the first phase of the Wawa-Calawis Water Supply System in Antipolo which can supply up to 80 MLD. The Wawa-Calawis Water Supply System is set to provide a total of 518 MLD of water to over one million customers in Antipolo City, Baras, and Teresa once fully operational.
“These measures are part of Manila Water’s commitment to ensure that our customers continue to receive 24/7 water services especially during the summer season where demand normally spikes by 15% due to higher temperatures. We continue to work closely with the MWSS, NWRB, DPWH, DENR, MMDA and other government agencies and local government units to always find ways to provide our customers with 24/7 uninterrupted water supply,” Manila Water Chief Operating Officer for East Zone Arnold Mortera said.
Although Manila Water has these water security measures in place, the company has been vigorously advocating the wise and responsible use of water to minimize water wastage and further ensure water availability and sustainability.
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