Manila Water’s Biodiesel Pilot which converts waste cooking oil to biodiesel and glycerin. The biodiesel from the process is used as an alternative fuel for the company’s diesel vehicles and equipment. The derived glycerin is utilized in wastewater treatment. This is just one of the six innovations that the company employs in its operations mainly to better serve its customers and reduce operational environmental impact.
MANILA, Philippines — Throughout the years, Manila Water has put a premium on developing systems and technologies to serve its customers better and lessen its environmental impact in its operations.
At the National Economic Development Authority’s Innovation Day exhibit on April 28 at the Philippine International Convention Center, the water concessionaire had the chance to showcase six cutting-edge technologies used in its operations to achieve various corporate goals and deliver lasting impact to the communities they serve.
One of Manila Water’s Floating Pumps deployed at the East La Mesa Treatment Plant. The submersible pumps ensure raw water flow during dry spells and even reduce turbidity by 60%.
Water Supply Solutions
With 7.4 million customers in the East Zone of Metro Manila and parts of Rizal, Manila Water does not stop creating ways to optimize water collection. This includes two technologies, namely Project Lights Out and Floating Pumps.
Project Lights Out is an automatic pressure adjustment system in the water distribution based on real-time demand from the customers. This ensures more efficient water distribution and optimized pressure management. The automated system also has a low upkeep and repair cost.
The Floating Pumps, deployed at the East La Mesa Treatment Plant, ensure continuous raw water flow in the event of decreased water levels brought by dry spells or El Nino. These submersible pumps also lower water turbidity by up to 60%, especially during typhoons. The pumps also ensure 24/7 water supply to 100,000 households.
Wastewater Operations
As part of the company’s support to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, Manila Water incorporated technologies in its wastewater management to lessen its environmental impact and provide more efficient sanitation to its customers.
The Manila Water Wastewater Team created the Biodiesel Pilot, which converts waste cooking oil to biodiesel and glycerin. The biodiesel derived from the process is used to power diesel vehicles. On the other hand, the glycerin produced is utilized in wastewater treatment. Furthermore, the Biodiesel Pilot cuts the company’s fuel expenses and reduces its carbon emissions.
To beef up sanitation, especially to low-income communities, Manila Water deploys its Portable Desludging Units (PDU). The PDU is a lightweight desludging truck that can navigate through narrow roads. They are made from scrap materials making it low cost but durable. With the rollout of these PDUs, the company expects increased desludging coverage to customers.
General Innovations
Manila Water’s Molecular Laboratory for Environmental Surveillance aids the company in supplying safe and potable water to its customers and maintaining the quality of wastewater in compliance with government regulations.
The molecular laboratory has the technology to extract DNA and RNA of target emerging contaminants from raw water sources and wastewater influents.
Manila Water operationalized its Operations Group Data Warehouse to streamline and achieve a cohesive workflow. The Data Warehouse is a centralized data management system that integrates various operations technology and information technology systems.
The Data Warehouse can transform raw data into actionable insights formatted into templated reports, dashboards, and other visuals, as well as automated alerts and notifications. This allows the company to make sound business decisions based on the insights derived from the application.
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