Maynilad Water Services, Inc. is upgrading the Putatan Water Treatment Plants (WTP) 1 and 2 in Muntinlupa City to address the deteriorating water condition in Laguna Lake.
The upgrades involve reinforcing materials and structures, fixing the silt curtain, improving the sludge management system, implementing activated carbon dosing, and replacing ultrafiltration membranes.
Maynilad has allocated a budget of P1.14 billion for the upgrade project that aims to enhance water treatment processes and provide cleaner and safer water to residents.
The upgrades have been implemented in phases since June to sustain normal water production despite the low-quality raw water. Service availability in the south has improved compared to the previous year.
Water production in Muntinlupa has been affected by spikes in total dissolved solids, algae proliferation, and the presence of organic and inorganic matter in the raw water.
The rehabilitation of the water plants is necessary to address the decline in treatment quality.
Maynilad to spend P1-B for Putatan WTP upgrades
At a glance
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. has announced plans to upgrade the Putatan Water Treatment Plants (WTP) 1 and 2 in Muntinlupa City to address the worsening water condition in Laguna Lake.
With an allocated budget of P1.14 billion, Maynilad said in a statement on Thursday, Oct. 19, that it aims to improve the treatment processes by reinforcing materials and structures.
The upgrades will focus on fixing and rehabilitating the existing silt curtain, sludge management system, and implementing activated carbon dosing. Additionally, all ultrafiltration membranes will be replaced.
According to the west zone concessionaire, Maynilad has been implementing changes in phases to sustain normal water production since June even with the low-quality raw water.
Because of this, Maynilad was able to improve their service availability in the south compared to last year.
To provide contrast, the water production in Muntinlupa would drop following spikes in total dissolved solids, algae proliferation, and presence of organic and inorganic matter in the raw water.
This treatment decline meant a much-needed water plant rehabilitation.
Randolph T. Estrellado, Maynilad chief operating officer stated that this is an essential investment in order to maximize the value of the lake as a water source for Metro Manila.
“We have had to incorporate additional treatment processes at Putatan WTP to handle some quality parameters of Laguna Lake that now occur at levels not seen from recorded prior ten-year experience,” he said.
The improvement actions have also been recommended by the Public Utility Board (PUB), which is the national water agency of Singapore.
The PUB was invited to the Philippines by Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Admin Leonor Cleofas to assist and advise Maynilad with their expertise.
Currently, Putatan WTPs are the two largest membrane-based water treatment plants in the Philippines.
Because of the plants, Laguna Lake became an alternate source to Angat Dam.
Meanwhile, Maynilad plans to construct another plant to hold 150 million of liters per day (MLD).
The construction will be done in Poblacion, Muntinlupa as the third facility to use Laguna Lake as the raw water source.
According to the concessionaire, these WTPs are important to utilize alternative water sources and improve service availability for consumers, as well as enhance water security. (Gabriell Christel Galang)