To achieve water security, environmental sustainability, and service enhancements, East Zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. has wrapped up several capital expenditure projects that are set to improve water and wastewater services to residents.
In a statement on Friday, Jan. 3, Manila Water announced that it has carried out facility improvements in areas in the eastern part of Metro Manila, many of which are located in Rizal, with others in Pasig, Marikina, and Mandaluyong.
These improvements, which are ongoing throughout 2024, include both operational facilities and those nearing completion.
This includes the commencement of operations for Phase 1 of the East Bay Water Supply System, which is designed to serve 390,000 customers in Jalajala, Pililia, Baras, Cardona, Morong, and Binangonan in Rizal, with the completion of two submarine pipelines connecting to Laguna Lake.
Another completed project in Rizal was the 80 million liters per day (MLD) Calawis Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which would augment water supply to over 900,000 customers in Antipolo, Baras, and Teresa.
Additionally, the Cardona Water Treatment Plant in Rizal has been upgraded to boost its conveyance from 50 MLD to 110 MLD.
The 50-MLD Binangonan Pumping Station and the 7-ML Reservoir in Binangonan were also completed last year, as they would play an important role in water storage and conveying treated water from the source WTP to distribution areas from the Morong Pump Station.
The Antipolo Transmission Line Project of Manila Water would also add and improve water service to more than one million residents in Antipolo, Teresa, Baras, Taytay, and Angono once operational.
In 2024, the concessionaire began the Antipolo Mainline Extension Project in Sitio Tanza and Tolosa Ville which would upgrade the 24-hour water supply service to more than 24,000 customers in Antipolo City.
Another improvement project conducted last year is the Darangan Bridge Pipelaying Project in Binangonan, which would service 20,000 households in Angono, Binangonan, Cainta, Taytay, and as far as Pasig City.
Aside from water expansion, Manila Water commenced wastewater management projects, including the two sewer line upgrades in Quezon City as they were done by replacing old concrete pipes with new cost-effective ones.
The Marikina North Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) and Terminal Pumping Station underwent major maintenance in 2024 as well.
Meanwhile, other projects expected to be completed in 2025 are the Phase 2 East Bay Water Supply System, which would serve 2.08 million people in Metro Manila and Rizal once completed, and the Kaysakat WTP project, which was 48 percent complete by the yearend 2024.
Once finished, the Kaysakat WTP would provide 220 MLD potable water supply to one million consumers in Antipolo, Teresa, and Baras.
A new sewage treatment plant, the 60-MLD Aglipay STP project is also anticipated to be fully operational by this year, and is set to improve the water quality in local rivers and minimize pollution in Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Quezon City.
By September 2025, the Pinugay Septage Treatment Plant in Antipolo would treat 50 cubic meters of wastewater, improving sanitation to 150,000 people in parts of Antipolo.
As of October, Manila Water has been serving nearly 8 million consumers, and would expand further through its other projects.
Jeric Sevilla, Manila Water communication affairs director, assured that these capex projects would help improve the water quality in its service areas.
“As the new year starts, we welcome 2025 with a renewed commitment of delivering the best quality of service we can give our customers. Rest assured we will continue to embark on investments that will further realize this, this year and for the next years to come,” he said.