Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco lauded the inauguration of the Putatan Water Treatment Plant 2 by Maynilad Water to ensure continuing water service in its concession areas.
“I commend Maynilad led by its Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and President Ramoncito S. Fernandez for their new facility that will help ensure adequate water supply to the West Zone concession area as part of our short term water supply projects,” Velasco said. “The utmost importance of this treatment facility cannot be overemphasized,” he added. With its operation, 100 MLD of potable water is now being supplied to Maynilad customers in Cavite, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque.
The Putatan Water Treatment Plant 2 is Maynilad’s second treatment facility that sources raw water from Laguna Lake. The output is expected to reach 150 MLD capacity, its maximum capacity in the latter part of the year. It uses a multi-stage process of Dissolved Air Flotation, Biological Aerated Filter, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and chlorination to treat the lake water and convert it to a product that complies with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) of the Department of Health.
According to Maynilad Chairman Pangilinan, PWTP 2 is a vital component of Maynilad’s plan to develop alternative sources of water to ensure long-term water security for its customers. This will also minimize dependence on Angat Dam which supplies 96 percent of the water requirement in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Maynilad’s first water treatment facility became operational in 2009, sourcing raw water from Laguna Lake.
Meanwhile, Manila Water President Ferdinand M. dela Cruz said that the Cardona Water Treatment Plant will be operating at 50 MLD by April 15, which will increase to 100 MLD by August this year. The Cardona Water Treatment Plant is a component of the Rizal Province Water Supply Improvement Project (RPWSIP), one of two Manila Water project proposals for additional raw water supply. The other proposal was the Tayabasan River Water Supply Project. The proposals were earlier disapproved by the past MWSS administration but two months before they stepped down on May 19, 2016, the RPWSIP was finally approved.
In a related development, Velasco said that he will recommend to President Duterte the issuance of an Executive Order as he has initiated moves to fast-track the water security roadmap for Metro Manila and its serviced areas.
With the concurrence of the MWSS Board, the water agency has crafted a short, medium and long water security roadmap that will provide potable and sustainable water supply in the next 5, 10 and even 50 years with at an increase of at least 1,518 MLD by 2022.
Being fast-tracked under the new water security roadmap are the following projects: 150 MLD Putatan (2019); 100 MLD Cardona (2019); 188 MLD Sumag (2020); 50 MLD Rizal Wellfield (2020); 80 MLD Calawis Wawa (2021); 100 MLD Putatan 3 (2022); and 250 MLD Lower Ipo. These, aside from the 600 MLD Kaliwa Dam projects whose implementation began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2023.
Being eyed as medium-term water source projects from 2023 to 2027 are the following: 420 MLD Wawa Dam; 250 MLD East Bay; 350 MLD Bayabas Dam; 550 MLD Angat Norzagaray Phase 2; 250 MLD East Bay; 750 MLD Sierra Madre; and 1,800 MLD Kanan River Phase 1.
According to Velasco, to complement the New Water Security Roadmap (2019-2022), there is the urgent need to fast track the completion of Aqueduct 6 and Tunnel 4, both started during the Duterte Administration by the present MWSS Board and Management. The two projects are expected to be operationalized by January 2020.
MWSS also expects to complete by June 2022, Aqueduct 7 and Tunnel 5 which will provide another 1,600 MLD to flow towards La Mesa. The completion of these aqueducts and tunnel system will optimize the flow of excess water from Angat to La Mesa Dam, MWSS said.