The Upper Wawa Dam, the second phase of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, reached a significant construction progress and is on track to start commercial operations by end-2025.
Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc.-led WawaJVCo Inc. said in a statement Wednesday the project had an overall progress rate of over 70 percent as of December 2023, with the 85-meter roller-compacted concrete dam to be finished in a few months, followed by the completion of the rest of the plant.
Prime Infra is businessman Enrique K. Razon Jr.’s infrastructure arm that focuses on building assets that support the most urgent sustainability priorities―energy, access to clean water and waste management.
“The exceptional construction pace at Upper Wawa Dam showcases Prime Infra’s commitment to delivering on our commitments in developing water supply infrastructure at this scale. We are pleased that the project continues to be materially ahead of schedule. We take great pride in ensuring that we sustain this pace and do so safely by 2025,” said Prime Infra president and chief executive Guillaume Lucci.
The project is the largest privately-led water supply infrastructure project in history. The dam, once in operation, will have a yearlong water supply capacity of over 700 million liters per day (MLD), benefiting the residents of the greater Metro Manila area, including the province of Rizal.
The Upper Wawa Dam will also help mitigate the perennial problem of flooding in the downstream areas and localities of the Marikina River, apart from providing a reliable water supply source.
“The Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project aims to secure sufficient capacity to meet the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System [MWSS] and its concessionaires’ water needs. Phase 1 became operational in record time since October 2022,” Lucci said.
The Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project in Rizal is one of the government’s infrastructure flagship projects that will address water security, specifically in the MWSS service area.
The project is the largest water supply dam to be constructed in over 50 years when Angat Dam was built.
It will increase Manila Water Co.’s capacity by over 30 percent of its current water supply allocation from the Angat Dam of about 1,600 MLD.
Phase 2 or the Upper Wawa Dam can deliver over 700 MLD of water by end-2025.
The project’s first phase, or the Tayabasan Weir, has been delivering an initial 80 MLD since it began operations.
WawaJVCo, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is also implementing a watershed management plan that includes reforestation activities around the site of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project covering 1,800 hectares.
“In developing this project, we aim to build a legacy by prioritizing environmental sustainability and fostering long-term partnerships with our host communities,” said Prime Infra market sector lead for water Melvin John Tan, who is also the president of WawaJVCo.